Orlando "the center of the bullseye"

[KBBOCA]

An article from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Notes Charley is currently Cat. 3. State of Emergency for Orange County...
------------
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/ ... -headlines

Orlando the 'center of the bullseye'

Hurricane Charlie loses speed, down to Category 3; See our Web log of breaking events ( http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/weathe ... -headlines )

By Beth Kassab and Pamela J. Johnson
Sentinel Staff Writers
Posted August 13 2004, 7:09 PM EDT

Orange County will likely be under a state of emergency by 10 p.m., County Chairman Richard Crotty said this afternoon.

"We are the center of the bullseye," Crotty said during an afternoon news briefing.

Crotty urged residents to stay off the roads and to use their cell phones only for emergencies. He said he spoke to Gov. Jeb Bush and was promised that Orange County will get the resources it needs to recover from Hurricane Charley.

"We have done everything in our power to prepare for this storm," Crotty said.

At 7 p.m., Hurricane Charley was located 65 miles south-southwest of Orlando, moving toward the north-northeast near 25 mph with maximum sustained winds of near 115 mph with higher gusts. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 85 miles.

Hurricane Charley's projected path has it moving northwest across the state through Polk, Osceola, Orange, Seminole and Volusia counties, according to the National Hurricane Center. It could take eight hours to move across the state, exiting around St. Augustine or Daytona Beach.

(for the rest... go to the article linked above)

[tropicsgal]

My sister just caled from Orlando and said they have lost some screening from their back porch, speakers they had hanging up outside are gone. I could hear the winnnd outside their house over the phonnnnnne. Hang on Orlando. Thoughts are with all of you.

[KBBOCA]

Looking at radar, Orlando will be hit soon, and looks like it will be the eastern portion of the eyewall.

http://weather.noaa.gov/radar/images/DS ... latest.gif

Could Charley truly still be Cat. 3 as reported in the Sun-Sentinel article??!

[tropicsgal]

I'm sorry for my spelling in my last post. Yes, they are also under a tornado warninng right now. Sister said she will call and keep me updated as it comes in . Dr. Steve Lyons mentioned Orlando will see the worst of the storm between 9 and 11PM.