Hurricane Charley May Wreak Havoc in Florida with 124 MPH Winds

Florida (HDW) August 13, 2004 - A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS FROM THE DRY TORTUGAS TO THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE...AND FOR THE FLORIDA WEST COAST FROM EAST CAPE SABLE NORTHWARD TO THE STEINHATCHEE RIVER. A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS ISSUED FOR THE FLORIDA AND GEORGIA COASTS FROM COCOA BEACH FLORIDA TO ALTAMAHA SOUND GEORGIA. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS FROM THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE TO OCEAN REEF...AND ALONG THE SOUTH FLORIDA MAINLAND FROM OCEAN REEF TO EAST CAPE SABLE...INCLUDING FLORIDA BAY AND LAKE OKEECHOBEE.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN U. S. COAST FROM OCEAN REEF NORTHWARD TO SOUTH OF COCOA BEACH AND FROM NORTH OF ALTAMAHA SOUND GEORGIA TO CAPE FEAR NORTH CAROLINA.
AT 7 AM EDT...1100Z...THE HURRICANE WARNING FOR CUBA HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED.
AT 7 AM EDT...1100Z...THE EYE OF HURRICANE CHARLEY WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 24.3 NORTH...LONGITUDE 82.9 WEST OR ABOUT 75 MILES...120 KM... WEST-SOUTHWEST OF KEY WEST FLORIDA.

CHARLEY IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST NEAR 18 MPH...30 KM/HR. A GRADUAL TURN TO THE NORTH IS EXPECTED TODAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 110 MPH...175 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE AND CHARLEY IS FORECAST TO BE A MAJOR HURRICANE AS IT APPROACHES THE FLORIDA WEST COAST.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 30 MILES... 45 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 125 MILES...205 KM. PRELIMINARY REPORTS FROM CUBA INDICATE THAT PEAK WINDS OF NEAR 124 MPH...200 KM/HR WERE MEASURED JUST WEST OF HAVANA NEAR THE EYE OF THE HURRICANE.

LATEST MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY A HURRICANE RECONNAISSANCE PLANE WAS 969 MB...28.61 INCHES.

STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 2 TO 4 FEET...ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE FLORIDA KEYS. STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 10 TO 13 FEET IS ALSO POSSIBLE NEAR AND SOUTH OF THE WHERE THE CENTER CROSSES THE FLORIDA WEST COAST.

RAINFALL TOTALS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE LIKELY IN ASSOCIATION WITH CHARLEY. THESE RAINS COULD CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS.

ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS PARTS OF THE SOUTHERN FLORIDA PENINSULA AND THE FLORIDA KEYS TODAY.

REPEATING THE 7 AM EDT POSITION...24.3 N... 82.9 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...NORTH-NORTHWEST NEAR 18 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...110 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 969 MB.