HANNA CONTINUES TO DRIFT ERRATICALLY BUT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE
NORTH-NORTHEAST

September 13, 2002 — At 11 p.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Hanna was located near latitude 28.2 north, longitude 89.1 west or about 70 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River. Hanna has been drifting slowly and erratically but is expected to begin moving toward the north-northeast Friday night and early Saturday at about 10 mph. On this forecast track, the center is expected to be near the coast in the warning area sometime before noon on Saturday, according to the NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Tropical Storm Hanna taken at 11:15 p.m. EDT on Sept. 13, 2002. Click here to see latest view. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph, with higher gusts. There is a chance of some additional strengthening early Saturday before the center reaches land. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 145 miles mainly to the east of the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1001 mb, 29.56 inches.

Rainfall accumulations of 6 to 10 inches, with isolated higher amounts, can be expected near and to the east of the path of the center of Hanna. There is a risk of isolated tornadoes from Mobile eastward across Alabama and the Florida panhandle. Coastal storm surge flooding of 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels, higher at heads of bays along with battering waves, can be expected within the warning area.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect from Grand Isle, La., to Apalachicola, Fla. A tropical storm watch remains in effect from east of Apalachicola to Suwannee River, Fla.

For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by NOAA National Weather Service local forecast offices.

Click NOAA tracking map for larger view.

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El Niño Expected to Impact Atlantic Hurricane Season, NOAA Reports

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Media Contact:
Frank Lepore, NOAA's National Hurricane Center, (305) 229-4404