ALEX A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE AS
IT PARALLELS THE OUTER BANKS
(See
the NOAA National Hurricane Center
for the latest information on this storm. Complete
advisories are posted at 11 a.m., 5 p.m., 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. All
times are Eastern. Advisories are posted more frequently as the
storm nears the USA mainland.) |
Aug.
3, 2004 — At 11 a.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Alex was located
near latitude 34.7 north, longitude 75.8 west or about 40 miles south-southwest
of Cape Hatteras, N.C. Alex is moving toward the northeast near 15 mph.
A northeastward motion with a small increase in forward speed is expected
during the next 24 hours. On the forecast track, the center of Alex is
expected to remain just offshore of the North Carolina Outer Banks. However,
any motion to the left of the expected track could bring the center of
the hurricane over the Outer Banks, according to the NOAA
National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. (Click NOAA satellite
image for larger view of Hurricane Alex taken at 9:45 a.m. EDT on Aug.
3, 2004. Click here for high
resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)
Maximum
sustained winds are near 100 mph with higher gusts. Little change in strength
is forecast during the next 24 hours. Alex is the first hurricane of the
2004 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30.
The storm spun into a hurricane shortly after midnight Tuesday. (Click
NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Alex taken at 7:45 a.m.
EDT on Aug. 3, 2004. Click here
for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles, mainly to the east
of the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105
miles.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 972 mb, 28.70 inches.
Additional rainfall accumulations of 3 to 6 inches can be expected in
association with Alex.
Coastal
storm surge flooding of 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels can be expected
on Atlantic shorelines. Storm surge flooding of 3 to 5 feet above normal
tide levels can be expected inside Pamlico Sound. High surf and rip
currents will affect much of the southeastern and mid-Atlantic U.S.
coastal areas for the next couple of days. (Click NOAA image for
larger view of Hurricane Alex tracking map.)
Isolated
tornadoes are possible over the Outer Banks Tuesday afternoon.
At 11 a.m.
EDT, the tropical storm warning is discontinued south of Surf City, N.C.
A tropical storm warning remains in effect from Surf City to Cape Lookout.
A hurricane warning remains in effect from Cape Lookout to Oregon Inlet,
N.C., including the Pamlico Sound. This means that hurricane conditions
are expected within the warning area during the next 24 hours. Preparations
to protect life and property should have been completed.
A tropical storm warning remains in effect from north of Oregon Inlet
to the North Carolina/Virginia border, including the Albemarle Sound.
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