11 PM, Kate 90 mph, Larry 60 mph, Nora 60 mph

[WXBUFFJIM]

Good evening everyone. We got two tropical storms and a hurricane to talk about in the tropics tonight. Tropical storm Nora in the eastern Pacific, Tropical Storm Larry in the Bay Of Campeche, and Hurricane Kate in the Subtropical Atlantic. It's 11 PM EDT and time for the tropical update.

First item up for discussion late this evening is Hurricane Kate, which is only a marine hazard through at least the next 4 days. It could threaten New Founderland in day 5 as a more extratropical type entity. But still strong none the less.

At 11 PM EDT, the center of Hurricane Kate was located about 1100 miles east southeast of Bermuda or at latitude 29.5 north, longitude 46.3 west.

Kate is moving towards the west southwest at near 12 mph and that general motion is expected to continue with a turn towards the west during the next 24 hours.

Maximum sustained winds are near 90 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours and Kate could become a category 2 hurricane possible early Friday morning. Kate has an outside chance to become the third major hurricane of the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season before a trough shears the hurricane and pushes it to the north into Newfounderland or near there by day 5.

Hurricane force winds extend outward 30 miles from the center while tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 230 miles. Minimum central pressure with Kate is the same as 5 PM at 976 mb or 28.82 inches. Kate is no threat to Bermuda or the United States, which is good news.

Meanwhile further south and west into the Bay Of Campeche, we got Larry and we got watches and warnings to talk about as well. A tropical storm warning is in effect as well as a hurricane watch along the coast of Bay Of Campeche from Veracruz, Mexico over to Campeche, Mexico on the Yucatan Pennisula. A coastal flood warning is also in effect along the southern Texas coast from Baffin Bay, TX down to the mouth of Rio Grande River in Texas.

A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within 24 hours or less. A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within 36 hours. A coastal flood warning means that coastal flooding is immient or is occurring. Coastal flooding and large waves have been reported over the past few days over South Padre and Padre Island, Texas and with the next high time after 1 am Friday, there is potential for more coastal flooding. A northeast wind of 20-25 knots with 8-9 foot seas has been persistent, thus the coastal flood warning through Friday along the south Texas coast.

At 11 PM EDT, the center of tropical storem Larry was located near latitude 20.4 north, longitude 94.1 west or about 160 miles east northeast of Veracruz. Mexico.

Larry is drifitng slowly and erractically towards the southwest at near 2 mph and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours.

Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph with higher gusts. There is some potential of strengthening to occur during the next day or two.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward 175 miles from the center. Portions of the Mexican coast between Veracruz and Campeche could already be seeing minimal tropical storm force winds already. Minimum central pressure is 993 mb or 29.32 inches.

Meanwhile Nora is a 60 mph tropical storm in the eastern Pacific located several hundred miles south of Cabo San Lucas, in Baja California. The coordinates with Nora as of 8 PM PDT are latitude 15.1 north, longitude 109.1 west. Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph with higher gusts. Strengthening is likely and Nora is expected to become a hurricane within the next 24 hours. At this point Nora appears to be no threat to any land areas.

That's the tropics for this time. Another update in the morning. Have a good night folks!!

Jim