12:44 11Aug2004 Tropical Storm Charley heads for Florida Keys

NEW YORK, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Charley, which turned away
from the U.S. oil and natural gas fields in the Gulf of Mexico, was
approaching Jamaica early Wednesday on its way toward Key West in Florida,
the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said.
At 5 a.m. EDT (0900 GMT), the storm was centered about 160 miles (255
KM) east-southeast of Kingston Jamaica.
A hurricane watch was issued for the Florida Keys from Dry Tortugas to
Craig Key, meaning hurricane conditions were possible within about 36 hours.
In addition, a hurricane watch remains in effect for Jamaica and the
Cayman Islands, while a tropical storm warning remains in effect for the
entire southwest peninsula of Haiti from the Dominican Republic border
westward, including Port-au-Prince.
Tropical storm and/or hurricane warnings will be required for portions
of Cuba later today.
Charley was expected to hit the Florida Keys Thursday night, according
to the NHC's three-day forecast track.
The storm was moving toward the west-northwest near 24 miles per hour
(39 KM/HR). This motion was expected to continue during the next 24 hours
before turning to the north-northeast.
Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph (100 KM/HR) with higher gusts.
Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours and Charley could
become a hurricane during the next day or so.
Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 115 miles (185 KM) from
the center.
The NHC will issue an intermediate advisory at 8 a.m., followed by the
next complete advisory at 11 a.m.
Position: Lat. 16.9 degrees North
Long. 74.7 degrees West
Track: Moving west-northwest near 24 mph
Strength: 65 mph maximum sustained winds.
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAXIMUM WINDS:
INITIAL 11/0900Z 16.9N 74.7W 55 KT
12HR VT 11/1800Z 18.1N 77.3W 60 KT...OVER JAMAICA
24HR VT 12/0600Z 19.9N 80.0W 65 KT
36HR VT 12/1800Z 22.3N 81.8W 70 KT...OVER CUBA
48HR VT 13/0600Z 25.0N 82.5W 75 KT
72HR VT 14/0600Z 34.0N 79.5W 55 KT...INLAND
96HR VT 15/0600Z 43.5N 72.0W 35 KT...EXTRATROPICAL
120HR VT 16/0600Z 50.0N 59.0W 35 KT...EXTRATROPICAL
(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.)