...Dennis continuing to become better organized to the east-southeast of Jamaica...
a Hurricane Warning remains in effect for Jamaica...the southwestern peninsula of Haiti from the Dominican Republic border westward...and portions of eastern Cuba for The Provinces of Granma...Santiago de Cuba...and Guantanamo.
A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the Cayman Islands and for portions of central and eastern Cuba...for The Provinces of Sancti Spiritus...Ciego de Avila...Camaguey...Las Tunas...and Holguin. A Hurricane Warning will likely be issued for the Cayman Islands later tonight.
At 8 PM EDT...0000z...the government of the Dominican Republic has discontinued the Tropical Storm Warning for the southern coast of the Dominican Republic. However...strong squalls will continue tonight and may produce wind gusts to 40 mph.
Interests in the central and western Caribbean Sea should monitor the progress of this system.
For storm information specific to your area...including possible inland watches and warnings...please monitor products issued by your local weather office.
At 8 PM EDT...0000z...the center of Hurricane Dennis was located near latitude 16.3 north... longitude 72.9 west or about 280 miles... 455 km... east-southeast of Kingston Jamaica and about 295 miles... 470 km...south-southeast of Guantanamo Bay Cuba.
Dennis is moving toward the west-northwest near 13 mph...20 km/hr... and this motion is expected to continue during the next 24 hours. On this track...Dennis will pass over or just east of Jamaica by Thursday afternoon.
Maximum sustained winds are near 80 mph...130 km/hr...with higher gusts. This makes Dennis a category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Additional strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours...and Dennis could become a category 2 hurricane before it reaches Jamaica on Thursday.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles... 35 km... from the center...and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles...165 km.
The minimum central pressure recently measured by an Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft was 984 mb...29.06 inches.
Dennis is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches over southern Hispaniola...Jamaica...eastern Cuba...and the Cayman Islands. Isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches are possible over the mountainous terrain of Jamaica. These rains could produce life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.
Repeating the 8 PM EDT position...16.3 N... 72.9 W. Movement toward...west-northwest near 13 mph. Maximum sustained winds... 80 mph. Minimum central pressure... 984 mb.
The next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 11 PM EDT.
Forecaster Stewart
Why do I have a strong dislike of that name?????????