Frances is Third Category 3 Hurricane of Hurricane Season

Miami (HDW) August 27, 2004 - INTERESTS IN THE NORTHERN LESSER ANTILLES AND THE NORTHEASTERN
CARIBBEAN SEA SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF FRANCES OVER
THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.

AT 5 PM AST...2100Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE FRANCES WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 15.7 NORTH...LONGITUDE 49.8 WEST OR ABOUT 800
MILES...1290 KM...EAST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS.

FRANCES IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH...19 KM/HR. A
MOTION BETWEEN NORTHWEST AND WEST-NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED FOR THE
NEXT 24 HOURS OR SO.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 115 MPH...185 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. THIS MAKES FRANCES A CATEGORY THREE MAJOR HURRICANE ON THE
SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE. ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS
FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS...AND FRANCES COULD BECOME A
CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE OVER THE WEEKEND.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 25 MILES... 35 KM...
FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP
TO 105 MILES...165 KM.

THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 962 MB...28.41 INCHES.

REPEATING THE 5 PM AST POSITION...15.7 N... 49.8 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED
WINDS...115 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 962 MB.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR
PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER
AT 11 PM AST.

FORECASTER STEWART