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Hurricane Emily Advisory Number 24
Statement as of 5:00 PM EDT on July 16, 2005

...Core of extremely dangerous category four Emily passing south of
western Jamaica...

 
a Hurricane Warning remains in effect for Jamaica and for all of the
Cayman Islands.

 
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.

 
At 5 PM EDT...2100 UTC...the government of Mexico has extended the
Hurricane Watch westward along the north coast of the Yucatan
Peninsula to Progreso.  A Hurricane Watch is now in effect for the
eastern and northern coasts of the Yucatan Peninsula from Chetumal
to Progresso...including Cozumel and the islas mujeres.

 
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible
within the warning area within the next 36 hours.

 
A tropical storm watch remains in effect for the coast of Belize
from Belize City northward to the Belize-Mexico border.  A tropical
storm watch may be required for portions of western Cuba later this
evening.

 
Interests elsewhere in the central and western Caribbean...and the
southern Gulf of Mexico...should monitor the progress of Emily.

 
For storm information specific to your area...including possible
inland watches and warnings...please monitor products issued
by your local weather office.

 
At 5 PM EDT...2100z...the center of Hurricane Emily was located near
latitude 16.8 north...longitude  78.8 west or about  130 miles...
210 km...south-southwest of Montego Bay Jamaica and about  235
miles... 375 km...southeast of Grand Cayman.

 
Emily is moving toward the west-northwest near 18 mph...30 km/hr...
and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24
hours.  This motion should bring the center of Emily south and
southwest of western Jamaica this evening and near Grand Cayman
island tonight.

 
Maximum sustained winds are near 155 mph...250 km/hr...with higher
gusts.  This makes Emily a strong category four hurricane on the
Saffir-Simpson scale.  Some fluctuations in strength are expected
during the next 24 hours...and Emily could become a category five
hurricane at times.

 
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to  60 miles... 95 km...
from the center...and tropical storm force winds extend outward up
to 150 miles...240 km.  For Jamaica...hurricane force winds may
occur in gusts in rainbands along the coasts...with possible
sustained hurricane force winds at higher elevations...especially
above 3000 feet.

 
Estimated minimum central pressure is  937 mb...27.67 inches.


Above normal tides...accompanied by large and dangerous battering
waves...are possible along the south coasts of Jamaica and the
Cayman Islands.

 
Emily may produce rainfall accumulations of 5 to 8 inches over
Jamaica with maximum amounts of 15 inches over mountainous terrain.
Rainfall totals of 5 to 8 inches is possible over the Cayman
Islands...with some 1 to 3 inch amounts possible over southeastern
Cuba.  Rains will be increasing over portions of the Yucatan
Peninsula on Sunday with storm total amounts of 4 to 8 inches
possible...and local maximum amounts up to 12 inches.  These rains
could produce life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.

 
Repeating the 5 PM EDT position...16.8 N... 78.8 W.  Movement
toward...west-northwest near 18 mph.  Maximum sustained
winds...155 mph.  Minimum central pressure... 937 mb.

 
An intermediate advisory will be issued by the National
Hurricane Center at 8 PM EDT followed by the next
complete advisory at 11 PM EDT.

 
Forecaster Beven