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Winds up to 150 now..

Statement as of 2:00 am AST on August 18, 2007

...Extremely dangerous category four Dean continues to intensify
while passing south of Puerto Rico...

a Hurricane Warning is in effect for the South Coast of the
Dominican Republic from Barahona westward to the Haiti-Dominican
Republic border. 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 Jamaica. A Hurricane Watch means
that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area...
generally within 36 hours.

A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for the British Virgin
Islands....U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. These warnings
will likely be discontinued later this morning. A Tropical Storm
Warning is in effect along the South Coast of the Dominican
Republic from Cabo engano westward to Barahona. A Tropical Storm
Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within
the warning area within the next 24 hours.

A tropical storm watch is in effect for portions of Cuba...from the
province of Camaguey eastward to the province of Guantanamo. A
tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area...generally within 36 hours.

Interests elsewhere in the central and western Caribbean...including
western Cuba...the Cayman Islands...and the Yucatan Peninsula of
Mexico...should closely monitor the progress of Dean.

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

At 200 am AST...0600z...the center of Hurricane Dean was located
near latitude 15.0 north...longitude 66.7 west or about 700 miles...
1125 km...east-southeast of Kingston Jamaica and about 240 miles...
390 km...south of San Juan Puerto Rico.

Dean is moving toward the west near 18 mph...30 km/hr...and this
general motion is expected to continue during the next 24 hours.
On this track...the core of the hurricane will be moving well south
of Puerto Rico tonight and south of the Dominican Republic later
today.

Reports from an Air Force hurricane hunter aircraft indicate that
maximum sustained winds have increased to near 150 mph...
240 km/hr...with higher gusts. Dean is a category four hurricane on
the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. Some additional strengthening
is forecast during the next 24 hours.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 60 miles...95 km...from
the center...and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 205
miles...335 km.

The minimum central pressure just reported by the aircraft was 930
mb...27.46 inches.

Storm total rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches can be expected from
Dean over Puerto Rico...the Dominican Republic and Haiti with
maximum amounts up to 5 inches possible. These rains could cause
life-threatening flash floods and mudslides

repeating the 200 am AST position...15.0 N...66.7 W. Movement
toward...west near 18 mph. Maximum sustained winds...150 mph.
Minimum central pressure...930 mb.

The next advisory will be issued by the National
Hurricane Center at 500 am AST.

$$
Forecaster Beven