5 AM EDT tropical update

[WXBUFFJIM]

Good morning everyone. Good to be back after a few techinical computer issues over the past several days. It's all fixed right now.

At 5 AM EDT, Hurricane Fabian continues to churn over the north Atlantic and becoming extratropical as it moves away from the United States and Bermuda. Tropical Depression Henri continues to slowly move up along the southeast US coast and could strengthen slightly later on today. Meanwhile a tropical system is in the developing stages way out in the eastern Atlantic and it's showing lots of promise to be another strong hurricane in the next few days. It's tropical storm isabel presently!!!

At 5 AM EDT, the closest tropical entity to the United States, Tropical Depression Henri was centered near latitude 30.8 north, longitude 79.1 west or about 135 miles south southeast of Charleston, South Carolina.

The depression was moving towards the northeast at near 8 mph and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. Some slight strengthening is possible and Tropical Depression Henri may become a minimal tropical storm later today or tonight. Whether it becomes a storm or not, a strong pressure gradient will develop courtesy of strong high pressure to the northwest of Tropical Depression Henri.KIt's in between the high and the tropical depression that the pressuure gradient will tighten along the southeast US coast over the next few days. Thus higher waves, dangerous rip currents, some heavier showers, and wind gusts between 30 and 40 mph.

Hurricane Fabian continues to churn in the North Atlantic, but is picking up speed as it heads away from the United States and Bermuda. At 5 AM EDT, the center of Hurricane Fabian was located near latitude 39.7 north, longitude 54.7 west or about 500 miles south of Cape Race, Newfoundland. Fabian is moving towards the east northeast at near 25 mph and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours with a gradual increase in forward speed.

Maximum sustained winds are 100 mph with higher gusts. Continued weakening is forecast and Fabian is expected to become extratropical in the next 18-24 hours as it moves into cooler water. It's expected to remain a very potent extratropical storm center as it heads for western Europe later this week with high winds and very heavy rains.

Hurricane force winds extend outward 85 miles while tropical storm force winds extend outward 230 miles. Minimum central pressure is now 965 mb or 28.50 inches.

Meanwhile in the eastern Atlantic, tropical storm Isabel, which formed yesterday continues to deepen quickly in the eastern Atlantic. At 5 AM EDT, the center of tropical storm Isabel was located near latitude 13.7 north, longitude 37.1 west or about 830 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands. Isabel is moving towards the west at near 10 mph and this motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours.

Maximum sustained winds are now up to 65 mph with higher gusts. Isabel is forecast to become a hurricane later on today or tonight. Isabel could potentially develop into a strong hurricane in the next 2-3 days as it continues to approach the norther Lesser Antillies. Isabel is about 4-5 days away from the Lesser Antillies. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 85 miles from the center. Minimum central pressure is 994 mb or 29.35 inches.

Another update later today!!! Good to be back folks.

Jim

[rainstorm]

welcome back