Tropical Storm Alex Becomes First of 2004 Atlantic Hurricane Season

REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE UNIT RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT TROPICAL DEPRESSION ONE HAS STRENGTHENED INTO TROPICAL STORM ALEX...THE FIRST NAMED STORM OF THE 2004 NORTH ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM CAPE FEAR TO CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA... INCLUDING THE PAMLICO SOUND. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM EDISTO BEACH SOUTH CAROLINA TO CAPE FEAR NORTH CAROLINA.

AT 2 PM EDT...1800Z...THE POORLY-DEFINED CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM ALEX WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 31.7 NORTH...LONGITUDE 79.1 WEST OR ABOUT 80 MILES...SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA.

THE CENTER OF ALEX HAS BEEN ESSENTIALLY STATIONARY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL HOURS...HOWEVER...A SLOW NORTHWARD MOTION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN LATER TODAY WITH A TURN TO THE NORTH-NORTHEAST TOMORROW. ON THIS TRACK...THE CENTER OF ALEX IS EXPECTED TO BE VERY NEAR THE SOUTH CAROLINA COASTLINE TONIGHT.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 40 MPH... 65 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS...MAINLY IN SQUALLS TO THE SOUTH AND EAST OF THE CENTER. SOME STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT IS 1010 MB...29.82 INCHES.

RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 1-2 INCHES...WITH ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS...CAN BE EXPECTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH ALEX.

REPEATING THE 2 PM EDT POSITION...31.7 N... 79.1 W. MOVEMENT ...STATIONARY. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED
WINDS... 40 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1010 MB.