Statement as of 8:00 PM PDT on September 22, 2003
...Marty weakens to a tropical storm over the Gulf of California...
at 8 PM PDT...0300z...the government of Mexico has discontinued the
hurricane warnings for the Baja California peninsula and for
Mainland Mexico.
At 8 PM PDT...0300z...the government of Mexico has issued a Tropical
Storm Warning for the east coast of the Baja Peninsula from Bahia
San Juan Bautista northward to the mouth of the Colorado River...
and for Mainland Mexico from Huatabampito northward to the mouth of
the Colorado River.
At 8 PM PDT...0300z...the center of Tropical Storm Marty was
located near latitude 28.0 north...longitude 112.3 west or about
60 miles...95 km...south-southwest of Bahia Kino Mexico.
Marty is moving toward the north-northwest near 21 mph
...33 km/hr...and this general motion...with a decrease in
forward speed...is expected later tonight or Tuesday morning. On
this track...the center of Marty is expected to move over the
northwestern coast of Mainland Mexico on Tuesday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph...110 km/hr...with higher
gusts. Some weakening is forecast during the next 24 hours.
Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 115 miles
...185 km...from the center.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 990 mb...29.23 inches.
Storm surge flooding of 2 to 5 feet above normal tide levels is
still expected in the warning areas. Storm surge flooding
outside the warning areas should gradually subside later tonight
and Tuesday morning.
Rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches...with locally higher amounts...
are likely near the path of the hurricane. These rains could cause
life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.
Some of the rainfall associated with Marty may spread northward over
the extreme southwestern United States during the next day or two.
Repeating the 8 PM PDT position...28.0 N...112.3 W. Movement
toward...north-northwest near 21 mph. Maximum sustained
winds... 70 mph. Minimum central pressure... 990 mb.
For storm information specific to your area...please monitor
products issued by your local weather office.
An intermediate advisory will be issued by the National
Hurricane Center at 11 PM PDT followed by the next
complete advisory at 2 am PDT.
Forecaster Stewart
