Hurricane News and Storm Tracking

Tropical Storm News, Warnings, Satellite, Tracking and More

Gov. Bobby Jindal left for Philadelphia this afternoon to meet with President-elect Barack Obama, hope in hand of loosening federal spending for hurricane recovery projects in Louisiana.

"There are literally billions of dollars that can be pushed through the pipeline that have already been allocated by Congress that have yet to come to our communities, that have yet to come to our state," Jindal said before flying out of Louis Armstrong International Airport.

Continue reading "Bobby Jindal off to meet Barack Obama at Philadelphia governors' conference" »

Another active, frightening and costly hurricane season has drawn to an end, with dozens of Louisiana coastal communities still picking up the pieces from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, and dreading what future storm seasons may promise.

The state Department of Economic Development in September estimated the two storms caused insured and uninsured losses of between $8 billion and $20 billion in Louisiana alone. That is much higher than early estimates, which pegged insured losses from the two storms in all states at $10 billion.

Continue reading "Season of deadly Hurricanes Gustav and Ike comes to an end" »

BATON ROUGE -- The Jacksonville, Fla., logistics firm that Gov. Bobby Jindal said fell short on its contract to procure evacuation buses for Hurricanes Gustav and Ike has billed the state of Louisiana $29.7 million for the services it did provide during and after the storms.

Continue reading "Louisiana hires auditor to look at bill for bus evacuations" »

The no-nonsense general who directed federal troops in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina returned to the city Tuesday to call for residents and leaders to adopt a permanent culture of disaster preparedness, from installing generators on the second floor instead of the first to making weather radios a staple holiday gift.

Continue reading "Lt. General Russel Honore: Hurricane preparedness should be top concern" »

In the more than three years since Hurricane Katrina, a scattered mess of storm-tossed washers, dryers and refrigerators is still lurking in the waters of Grand Isle's Caminada Pass.

Continue reading "FEMA pays to clean waterways of debris from Hurricane Katrina but not Gustav" »

A Metairie man who used Hurricane Katrina repair loans from the federal government to buy a car, a boat and a house was sentenced Wednesday to four months in prison.

Continue reading "Katrina fraud sends Metairie man to prison" »

Developers are proposing an assisted living complex for elderly people at the former site of the Redwood Park apartments in Kenner.

Continue reading "Kenner eyes assisted living center at Redwood site" »

Information from the National Weather Service

This is the final advisory concerning Paloma.

At 9 p.m., the center of weakening Tropical Depression Paloma was located near latitude 22.0 north, longitude 78.0 west, about 40 miles north of Camaguey, Cuba and about 180 miles southwest of the Central Bahamas.

The depression is moving toward the north near 3 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue for the next day or so. On the forecast track, the remnants of Paloma should emerge off the north coast of Cuba Monday morning.

Maximum sustained winds are near 30 mph with higher gusts. Continued weakening is forecast during the next 24 hours.

The remnants of Paloma may produce additional rainfall accumulations of 1 to 2 inches over portions of eastern and central Cuba and the Bahamas.

At 3:00 p.m. CDT the center of tropical depression paloma was located near latitude 21.2 north, longitude 78.0 west or about 15 miles, 25 km, south-southwest of Camaguey, Cuba.

Paloma is drifting toward the north near 1 mph, 2 km/hr, and a slow generally northward motion is expected during the next day or so. On the forecast track, paloma or its remnant should be near the north coast of Cuba tomorrow.

Continue reading "Paloma weakens to a tropical depression over Cuba" »

At 9 a.m. CDT the government of the Bahamas has discontinued the tropical storm warning for the bahamas.

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

At 9 a.m. CDT the center of Tropical Storm Paloma was located near latitude 21.2 north, longitude 77.9 west or near Camaguey, Cuba.

Continue reading "Paloma continues to weaken over Cuba" »

Information from the national weather service

A hurricane warning remains in effect for the Cuban provinces of Ciego de Avila, Camaguey, Las Tunas, Granma and Holguin.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the Cuban province of Santiago de Cuba.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for the central Bahamas, including Cat Island, the Exumas, Long Island, Rum Cay, San Salvador, Acklins Island, Crooked Island and the Ragged Islands. A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours.

Interests elsewhere in Cuba and the Bahamas should closely monitor the progress of Paloma.

At 10 p.m., the center of Hurricane Paloma was located near latitude 20.9 north, longitude 77.7 west, about 35 miles south-southeast of Camaguey, Cuba and about 75 miles north of Cabo Cruz.

Continue reading "Major hurricane Paloma slows down over eastern Cuba" »

Information from the National Weather Service

A hurricane warning is in effect for the Cuban provinces of Ciego de Avila, Camaguey, Las Tunas, Granma and Holguin. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.

As of 7 p.m., the government of the Cayman Islands has discontinued the hurricane warning for little Cayman and Cayman Brac.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the Cuban province of Santiago de Cuba.

A tropical storm warning is also in effect for the central Bahamas, including Cat Island, the Exumas, Long Island, Rum Cay, San Salvador, Acklins Island, Crooked Island and the Ragged Islands. A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours.

Interests elsewhere in Cuba and the Bahamas should closely monitor the progress of Paloma.

At 7 p.m., the center of major hurricane Paloma was located near latitude 20.8 north, longitude 77.9 west or just east of Santa Cruz del Sur, Cuba, and about 45 miles south of Camaguey, Cuba.

Paloma is moving toward the northeast near 10 mph, and this general motion is expected through Sunday with a decrease in forward speed as Paloma moves across Cuba. On the forecast track, the center of Paloma is expected to be approaching the atlantic coast of east-central Cuba Sunday morning, and be nearing the central Bahamas late Sunday or on Monday.

Continue reading "Major hurricane Paloma makes landfall near Santa Cruz del Sur, Cuba" »

A hurricane warning remains in effect for the Cuban provinces of Ciego de Avila, Camaguey, Las Tunas, Granma and Holguin. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. A hurricane warning remains in effect for the Cayman Islands. This warning will likely be discontinued later this afternoon. A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the Cuban province of Santiago de Cuba. Continue reading "Outer rain bands of Paloma affecting Cuba" »

At 9:00 a.m. CDT the government of Cuba has issued a hurricane warning for the Cuban provinces of Granma and Holguin and discontinued the hurricane warning for Sancti Spiritus. A hurricane warning is now in effect for the Cuban provinces of Ciego de Avila, Camaguey, Las Tunas, Granma and Holguin. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. A hurricane warning remains in effect for the Cayman Islands. A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the Cuban province of Santiago de Cuba. A tropical storm watch remains in effect for the central Bahamas, including Cat Island, the Exumas, Long Island, Rum Cay, and San Salvador. A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 36 hours. Interests elsewhere in Cuba and the Bahamas should closely monitor the progress of Paloma. For storm information specific to your area please monitor products issued by your local weather office. Continue reading "Extremely dangerous Paloma takes aim at Cuba" »

A hurricane warning is in effect for the Cayman Islands. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. A hurricane warning is also in effect for the Cuban provinces of Sancti Spiritus... Ciego de Avila...Camaguey and Las Tunas. 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 tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch are in effect for the Cuban province of Granma. A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area...generally within 36 hours. A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours. Continue reading "Extremely dangerous Paloma strengthens a little more" »

Major Hurricane Paloma is lashing Grand Cayman with strong winds and heavy rains and is now heading toward Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. A hurricane warning is in effect for the Cayman Islands. At 9 a.m. the center of Hurricane Paloma was located about 25 miles southeast of the eastern end of Grand Cayman and about 65 miles southwest of Little Cayman. This position is also about 250 miles southwest of Camaguey, Cuba. Continue reading "Hurricane Paloma lashes Grand Cayman" »

Dangerous major Hurricane Paloma is continuing to strengthen as it slowly approaches Grand Cayman. A hurricane warning is in effect for the Cayman Islands.
Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.

At 6 p.m. the center of Hurricane Paloma was located about 30 miles south of the eastern end of Grand Cayman and about 275 miles southwest of Camaguey, Cuba.

Continue reading "Hurricane Paloma now Cat 3, heading for Grand Cayman" »

At 3 p.m., the center of Hurricane Paloma was located near latitude 18.7 north, longitude 81.3 west or about 40 miles south of Grand Cayman and about 290 miles southwest of Camaguey, Cuba.

Paloma is moving toward the north-northeast near 6 mph. A turn toward the northeast is expected overnight and that general motion is expected for the next couple of days.

Continue reading "Category 2 Hurricane Paloma lashing Grand Cayman" »

At noon, the center of Hurricane Paloma was located near latitude 18.4 north, longitude 81.3 west or about 60 miles south of Grand Cayman and about 220 miles west of Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Paloma is a Category 1 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds near 90 mph, with higher gusts. Further strengthening is likely and Paloma is expected to become a Category 2 hurricane later today, and possibly reach Category 3 intensity late tonight or on Saturday.

Continue reading "Hurricane Paloma intensifies" »

At 9 a.m., the center of Hurricane Paloma was located near latitude 18.3 north, longitude 81.6 west or about 75 miles south-southwest of Grand Cayman and about 245 miles west of Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Paloma is moving toward the north near 7 mph,. A gradual turn toward the northeast is expected tonight and Saturday. On the forecast track, the center of Paloma will pass near the Cayman Islands late today or early Saturday and be approaching the coast of Central Cuba late Saturday.

Continue reading "Hurricane Paloma's winds approaching Grand Cayman" »

At 6 a.m., the center of Hurricane Paloma was located near latitude 18.1 north, longitude 81.6 west or about 85 miles south-southwest of Grand Cayman and about 245 miles west of Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Paloma is moving toward the north near 8 mph, and this motion is expected to continue today. A gradual turn toward the northeast is expected tonight and Saturday. On the forecast track, the center of Paloma will pass near the Cayman Islands late Friday or early Saturday.

Continue reading "Hurricane watch issued for portions of Cuba" »

At 3 a.m., the center of Hurricane Paloma was located near latitude 17.8 north, longitude 81.7 west or about 110 miles south-southwest of Grand Cayman and about 255 miles west of Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Paloma is moving toward the north near 9 mph and this motion is expected to continue today. A gradual turn toward the northeast is expected tonight and Saturday. On the forecast track, the center of Paloma will pass near the Cayman Islands late friday or early Saturday.

Continue reading "Paloma strengthening, continuing northward toward the cayman islands" »

At midnight, the center of Hurricane Paloma was located near latitude 17.5 north, longitude 81.8 west or about 125 miles south-southwest of Grand Cayman and about 265 miles west-southwest of Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Paloma is moving toward the north near 8 mph. This general motion is expected to continue tonight and most of the day on Friday, with a gradual turn toward the northeast forecast to occur late Friday and on Saturday.

Continue reading "Paloma moving northward toward Cayman Islands" »

Information from the National Weather Service

A hurricane warning is in effect for 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.

Interests in Cuba and Jamaica should closely monitor the progress of Paloma.

At 9 p.m., the center of Hurricane Paloma was located near latitude 17.2 north, longitude 81.8 west, about 150 miles south-southwest of Grand Cayman and about 270 miles west-southwest of Montego Bay Jamaica.

Paloma is moving toward the north near 8 mph. This general motion is expected to continue tonight and most of the day on Friday, with a gradual turn toward the northeast forecast to occur late Friday and on Saturday.

Continue reading "Hurricane Paloma continues to grow" »

A hurricane warning remains in effect for 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.

Interests in Cuba and Jamaica should monitor the progress of Paloma.

At 6 p.m., the center of Hurricane Paloma was located near latitude 16.9 north, longitude 81.7 west, about 165 miles south of Grand Cayman and about 280 miles west-southwest of Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Paloma is now moving toward the north near 12 mph. This general motion is expected to continue tonight and most of day on Friday, with a gradual turn toward the northeast forecast to occur late Friday and on Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 75 mph with higher gusts. Paloma is now a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. Paloma continues to rapidly organize and additional strengthening is likely. Paloma is expected to become a category 2 hurricane on Friday.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center. During the past hour, NOAA buoy 42057 located just east of the center reported a one-minute sustained wind of 71 mph and a wind gust to 78 mph.

Paloma is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches of rain over the Cayman Islands with isolated maximum totals of 12 inches possible.

Tropical Storm Paloma continues to gain strength.

At 3 p.m., the center of Tropical Storm Paloma was located about 210
Miles south of Grand Cayman and about 300 miles west-southwest of Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Continue reading "Tropical Storm Paloma continues to gain strength" »

At noon, the center of Tropical Storm Paloma was located by aircraft reconnaissance near latitude 15.9 north, longitude 81.9 west or about 105 miles northeast of Cabo Gracias a Dios on the Nicaragua/Honduras border and about 235 miles south of Grand Cayman.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 60 mph with higher gusts. Steady strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days, and paloma could become a hurricane tonight or tomorrow.

Continue reading "Intensifying Tropical Storm Paloma turns north" »

Tropical Storm Paloma is strengthening.

At 10 a.m. the center of Tropical Storm Paloma was located about 75 miles northeast of Cabo Gracias a Dios on the Nicaragua/Honduras border and about 265 miles south-southwest of Grand Cayman.

Continue reading "Tropical Storm Paloma is picking up steam" »

Tropical Storm Paloma is becoming better organized as it moves slowly north-northwestward.

At 7 a.m. the center of Tropical Storm Paloma was located about 70 miles east-northeast of Cabo Gracias a Dios on the Nicaragua/Honduras border.

Continue reading "Tropical Storm Paloma becoming better organized" »

At midnight, the center of Tropical Depression 17 was located near latitude 14.6 north, longitude 82.1 west or about 85 miles east-southeast of Cabo Gracias a Dios on the Nicaragua/Honduras border.

The depression is moving erratically toward the northwest near 5 mph. This general motion is expected to continue today, with a gradual turn toward the north forecast on Friday.

Continue reading "Tropical Depression 17 not yet a tropical storm" »

At 9 p.m., the center of Tropical Depression 17 was located near latitude 14.3 north, longitude 82.1 west or about 90 miles east-southeast of Cabo Gracias a Dios on the Nicaragua/Honduras border.

The depression is moving toward the northwest near 5 mph. This general motion is expected to continue through Thursday, with a gradual turn toward the north forecast on Friday.

Continue reading "Depression nearing tropical storm strength" »

At 6 p.m., the center of Tropical Depression 17 was located near latitude 14.2 north, longitude 81.9 west or about 110 miles east-southeast of Cabo Gracias a Dios on the Nicaragua/Honduras border.

Continue reading "Tropical Depression 17 could become tropical storm later Wednesday" »

At 3 p.m., the center of Tropical Depression 17 was located near latitude 14.0 north, longitude 81.8 west or about 115 miles southeast of Cabo Gracias a Dios on the Nicaragua/Honduras border.

The depression is moving toward the northwest near 5 mph. This general motion is expected through tomorrow with a turn toward the north forecast on Friday.

Continue reading "New Tropical Depression 17 forecast to strengthen" »

Using the recovery from hurricanes Gustav and Ike to illustrate improvements in the government's emergency readiness, FEMA Administrator David Paulison touted reforms in his agency during a speech today to the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce.

"One of the basic lessons we learned in Katrina was the need for pre-planning and pre-positioning," Paulison told a luncheon crowd at the New Orleans Airport Hilton in Kenner.

(To hear Paulison's speech, click here.)

Continue reading "FEMA chief heralds agency reforms in Kenner speech" »

At 10 a.m., the center of the remnant low, former Tropical Storm Omar was located near latitude 33.4 north, longitude 50.7 west or about 820 miles east of Bermuda and about 1365 miles west of the Azores.

Omar is moving toward the northeast near 15 mph and this motion is expected to continue during the next day or so.

Continue reading "Omar degenerates to remnant low" »

At 4 a.m., the center of Tropical Storm Omar was located near latitude 32.9 north, longitude 51.5 west or about 775 miles east of Bermuda and about 1420 miles west of the Azores.

Omar is moving toward the northeast near 16 mph and this general motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days.

Continue reading "Omar weakening over open Atlantic Ocean" »

Hurricane Omar again weakens to a tropical storm.

At 10 p.m. the center of Tropical Storm Omar was located about 705 miles east of Bermuda and about 1,525 miles west of the Azores.

Continue reading "Hurricane Omar weakens again" »

Tropical Storm Omar has briefly regained hurricane status over the open Atlantic Ocean.

At 4 p.m. the center of Hurricane Omar was located about 660 miles east of Bermuda and about 1,580 miles west-southwest of the Azores.

Continue reading "Tropical Storm Omar regains hurricane strength" »

At 10:00 a.m. CDT the center of Tropical Storm Omar was located near latitude 28.9 north, longitude 55.1 west or about 625 miles, 1000 km, east-southeast of Bermuda.

Omar is moving toward the northeast near 35 mph, 56 km/hr, and and the system is expected to continue moving in this general direction with a decrease in forward speed during the next 48 hours.

Continue reading "Omar strengthens over the open north Atlantic" »

Omar continues to weaken as it moves northeastward over the atlantic,

At 4:00 a.m. CDT the center of tropical storm omar was located near latitude 26.0 north, longitude 56.4 west or about 670 miles, 1075 km, southeast of bermuda.

Omar is moving toward the northeast near 25 mph, 41 km/hr, and this general motion with a gradual decrease in forward speed is expected during the next day or two.

Continue reading "Omar continues to weaken" »

When two movable railroad bridges were built across the newly dug Industrial Canal in New Orleans in 1919, no one imagined the impact they would have 89 years later on storm surge driven by a hurricane called Gustav.

Continue reading "90-year-old bridges contribute to flood threat in Industrial Canal" »

Information from the National Weather Service

At 10 p.m., the center of Tropical Storm Omar was located near latitude 23.8 north, longitude 58.1 west, about 505 miles northeast of the northern Leeward Islands and about 715 miles southeast of Bermuda.

Continue reading "Omar weakens to tropical storm" »

Information from the National Weather Service

Omar is quickly moving into the open central Atlantic. Heavy rainfall still occurring in the northern and central Lesser Antilles

At 4 p.m., the center of Hurricane Omar was located near latitude 22.1 north, longitude 59.7 west, about 350 miles northeast of the northern Leeward Islands.

Omar is moving toward the north-northeast near 26 mph and the hurricane is expected to move toward the north-northeast or northeast at a slower forward speed during the next two days.

Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph with higher gusts. Gradual weakening of the hurricane is anticipated during the next two days and Omar could become a tropical storm by tomorrow.

Continue reading "Omar moving into open water" »

At 10:00 a.m. CDT the center of Hurricane Omar was located near latitude 20.2 north, longitude 61.3 west or about 180 miles, 290 km northeast of the northern Leeward Islands.

Omar is moving toward the northeast near 23 mph, 37 km/hr and this general motion is expected during the next two days.

Maximum sustained winds are near 85 mph, 140 km/hr with higher gusts. Some weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours.

Continue reading "Omar losing steam" »

Hurricane Omar is moving rapidly away from the northern Leeward Islands and all warnings and watches have been discontinued for remainder of the Leeward Islands.

At 7 a.m. the center of Hurricane Omar was located about 160 miles north-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands.

Continue reading "Hurricane Omar moving away from land" »

The core of Hurricane Omar is rapidly moving away from the northern Leeward Islands.

A hurricane warning remains in effect for St. Martin/Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Barthelemy and Anguilla.

Continue reading "Hurricane Omar moves away from northern Leeward Islands" »

Omar becomes a major hurricane as it approaches the virgin and northern Leeward Islands, A hurricane warning is in effect for the U.S. Virgin Islands and the islands of Vieques and Celebre.

A hurricane warning is also in effect for St. Martin/Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Barthelemy, the British Virgin Islands, and Anguilla. 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 and a tropical storm warning remain in effect for Puerto Rico, and also for the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis. A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area, in this case, within the next 24 hours.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for Antigua, Barbuda, and Montserrat. 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 Guadeloupe. For storm information specific to your area, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local weather office.

Continue reading "Omar becomes major hurricane" »

At 10:00 p.m. CDT the poorly-defined center of Tropical Depression 16 was located near latitude 15.3 north, longitude 85.9 west or about 40 miles, 65 km, south-southwest of limon honduras and about 185 miles, 300 km, east-southeast of Monkey River Town, Belize.

The depression is moving toward the west-southwest near 7 mph, and a motion between west-southwest and west is expected to continue during the next couple of days.

Continue reading "Heavy rains pummel Central America" »

OMAR BECOMES CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE...MOVING QUICKLY NORTHEASTWARD TOWARD THE VIRGIN AND NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS...

A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND THE ISLANDS OF VIEQUES AND CULEBRA. A HURRICANE WARNING IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR ST. MARTIN/MAARTEN...SABA...ST. EUSTATIUS...ST.
BARTHELEMY...THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS...AND ANGUILLA. 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 AND A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR PUERTO RICO...AND ALSO FOR THE ISLANDS OF ST. KITTS AND NEVIS.

A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...IN THIS CASE..WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ANTIGUA...BARBUDA...AND MONTSERRAT.

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 GUADELOUPE.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

AT 800 PM AST...0000Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE OMAR WAS LOCATED BY AN AIR FORCE RESERVE UNIT HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT AND NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR NEAR LATITUDE 16.6 NORTH...LONGITUDE
65.2 WEST OR ABOUT 80 MILES...130 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF ST. CROIX AND ABOUT 135 MILES...215 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF SAN JUAN PUERTO RICO.

OMAR IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST NEAR 17 MPH...28 KM/HR. A GRADUAL INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. ON THE FORECAST TRACK...OMAR IS EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY THURSDAY.

REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT INDICATE MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 105 MPH...
170 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. OMAR IS NOW A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS...AND OMAR IS EXPECTED TO BE A STRONG CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE BY THE TIME IT REACHES THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS. ALSO... STRONGER WINDS...ESPECIALLY IN GUSTS...ARE LIKELY OVER ELEVATED TERRAIN.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 15 MILES...30 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 115
MILES...185 KM. TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE BEGINNING TO SPREAD INTO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS...AND SHOULD SPREAD OVER THE LEEWARD ISLAND DURING THE NEXT FEW HOURS.

THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE RECENTLY REPORTED BY THE HURRICANE HUNTER WAS 971 MB...28.67 INCHES.

OMAR IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES OVER PORTIONS OF THE NETHERLANDS ANTILLES...WITH MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF
12 INCHES POSSIBLE. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES WITH MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 6 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE NORTHERN GUAJIRA PENINSULA. TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 5 TO 10 INCHES...WITH MAXIMUM AMOUNTS UP TO 20 INCHES...WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS PUERTO RICO AND THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS. THESE RAINS COULD PRODUCE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES.

COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 2 TO 4 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS...ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE EXPECTED NEAR AND TO THE RIGHT OF THE PATH OF OMAR. IN ADDITION...
OMAR IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE LARGE SWELLS THAT WILL AFFECT THE WEST- AND SOUTH-FACING COASTS OF PUERTO RICO AND THE ISLANDS OF THE LESSER ANTILLES. THESE SWELLS COULD CAUSE BEACH EROSION AND DAMAGE TO COASTAL STRUCTURES.

At 7:00 p.m. CDT the government of belize has discontinued the tropical storm warning.

At 7:00 p.m. CDT the government of guatemala has discontinued the tropical storm watch.

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

At 7:00 p.m. CDT the poorly-defined center of Tropical Depression 16 was located near latitude 15.3 north, longitude 85.6 west or about 35 miles, 55 km, south of Limon, Honduras and about 205 miles, 330 km, east-southeast of Monkey River Town, Belize.

Continue reading "Heavy rains continue over portions of Central America" »

At 4:00 p.m. CDT the government of Belize has dropped the tropical storm warning for the northern Belize coast north of Belize city. The government of Honduras has dropped the tropical storm warning for the entire Honduras coast.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the southern Belize coast to the Guatemala/Honduras border. A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours.

A tropical storm watch remains in effect for the east coast of Guatemala. A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 36 hours.

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

Continue reading "TD 16 threatens Central America" »

A hurricane warning is in effect for the U.S. Virgin Islands and the islands of Vieques and Culebra.

A hurricane warning is also in effect for st. Martin/Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Barthpical storm warning is in effect for Antigua, Barbuda, and Montserrat.

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 Guadeloupe.

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

Continue reading "Omar strengthens, threatens Virgin Islands" »

The center of Hurricane Omar was located by an Air Force Reserve Unit Hurricane Hunter aircraft to be near latitude 15.5 north, latitude 66.6 west or about 195 miles southwest of St. Croix and about 205 miles south-southwest of San Juan Puerto Rico.

Omar, a Category 1 hurricane, is moving toward the east-northeast near 13 mph. A gradual turn back toward the northeast is forecast to occur later today, with an increase in forward speed expected over the next day or two.

Continue reading "Omar getting better organized" »

At 1 p.m., the broad center of Tropical Depression 16 was lo