TROPICAL DEPRESSION TEN REGENERATES SOUTH OF JAMAICA

September 17, 2002 — Reports from an Air Force Reserve unit reconnaissance aircraft indicate that the tropical wave south of Jamaica has reacquired a closed circulation and is now a tropical depression. At 11 a.m. EDT, the center of tropical depression ten was located near latitude 15.9 north, longitude 77.2 west or about 145 miles south of Kingston, Jamaica. The depression is moving toward the west near 9 mph. A turn to the west-northwest is expected during the next 24 hours, according to the NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of tropical depression ten taken at 11:45 a.m. EDT on Sept. 17, 2002. Click here to see latest view. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. The depression could become a tropical storm during the next 24 hours. Most of the strongest winds with the depression are located well to the north and east of the center, and gusts to tropical storm force may spread over Jamaica over the next day or so.

The minimum central pressure reported by an Air Force Reserve unit reconnaissance aircraft is 1009 mb, 29.80 inches. Heavy rains are expected to spread over Jamaica over the next 24 hours, and these rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of tropical depression ten taken at 9:15 a.m. EDT on Sept. 17, 2002.)

Click NOAA tracking map for larger view.

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