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CHANTAL REGAINS TROPICAL STORM STRENGTH
August 17, 2001 Data from an
Air Force plane and NOAA satellite indicate that Chantal has
regained tropical storm strength, and at 5 p.m. EDT the center
was located near latitude 14.3 north, longitude 67.4 west or
about 325 miles south-southeast of Santo Domingo in the Dominican
Republic, according to NOAA's
National Hurricane Center. (Click NOAA satellite image
for larger view of Tropical Storm Chantal taken August 17, 2001
at 1:12 p.m. EDT. Click
here to see latest satellite image.)
Chantal is moving toward the
west near 23 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue
during the next day or two. On this track Chantal will be passing
to the south of or near Jamaica late Saturday or early Sunday.
Maximum sustained winds are
near 40 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast
during the next 24 hours, and Chantal could become a hurricane
in the western Caribbean. Tropical storm force winds extend outward
up to 115 miles to the north and east of the center. Minimum
central pressure reported by an Air Force plane was 1006 Mb,
29.71 inches.
Chantal has the potential to
become a dangerous hurricane in the northwestern Caribbean Sea,
and all interests in this area should monitor the progress of
this system. The government of Jamaica has issued a hurricane
watch for the country.
Storm Advisories updated
5 a.m., 11 a.m., 5 p.m., and 11 p.m. EDT; every three hours if
a Watch/Warning is in effect.
NOAA satellite
images updated 15 minutes past the hour; Atlantic Coast and
Gulf of Mexico and close-ups also updated at 45 past the hour.
Click NOAA tracking
map for larger view.
Relevant Web Sites
NOAA's
National Hurricane Center Get the latest advisories
here
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NOAA's Hurricanes Page
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across the USA
Media Contact:
Frank Lepore,
NOAA's National Hurricane
Center, (305) 229-4404
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