12:23 05Sep2003 RTRS-Tropical Storm Henri to hit Florida Friday night

- Tropical Storm Henri will hit
the central Florida Gulf Coast late tonight, bringing wind and
rain that could cause some areas to flood, the National
Hurricane Center said Friday.
The tropical storm is moving toward the east at 7 miles per
hour with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph, the Miami-based
NHC said.
The storm, which is located about 115 miles west of St.
Petersburg, Florida, is not expected to hit the oil and gas
fields in the Gulf of Mexico, according to the Center's three-
and five-day forecasts.
Rain is currently confined to the Central Florida Gulf
Coast, but is expected to spread inland.
Up to 8 inches may accumulate over the next day or two
across portions of central and north Florida, which may result
in flooding since the area has already been soaked by one of
the wettest summers in years.
There is also a risk of isolated tornadoes later today in
central and north Florida.
The NHC said it will issue an intermediate advisory on
Henri at 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT) followed by the next complete
advisory at 11 a.m.
Position: Lat. 27.7 degrees North
Long. 84.6 degrees West
(About 115 miles west of St. Petersburg, Florida)
Track: Moving east at 7 miles per hour and a turn toward the
northeast is expected during the next 24 hours
Strength: 40 mph maximum with higher gusts.
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAXIMUM WINDS
INITIAL 05/0900Z 27.7N 84.6W 35 KT
12HR VT 05/1800Z 28.0N 83.7W 40 KT
24HR VT 06/0600Z 28.7N 82.6W 45 KT
36HR VT 06/1800Z 29.6N 81.5W 35 KT...INLAND
48HR VT 07/0600Z 30.8N 80.2W 40 KT...BACK OVER WATER
72HR VT 08/0600Z 32.9N 77.6W 40 KT
96HR VT 09/0600Z 34.5N 74.5W 35 KT
120HR VT 10/0600Z 36.5N 70.5W 25 KT
(NOTES -- Second column shows date and GMT time. To convert
GMT time to EDT, subtract 4 hours. Third and fourth column show
coordinates. Fifth column shows maximum sustained speed in
knots. 1 knot = 1.15 mph. 34 knots or greater is tropical storm
strength. 64 knots or greater is hurricane strength. U.S.
offshore oil and natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico
is concentrated North of 27 degrees North and West of 88
degrees West.)


Friday, 05 September 2003 12:23:46
RTRS [nN05370847] {EN}
ENDS