ISIDORE SOAKING JAMAICA AND IS POISED TO STRENGTHEN

September 18, 2002 — At 11 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Isidore was located near latitude 17.9 north, longitude 78.7 west or about 35 miles southwest of the western tip of Jamaica. This position is also about 195 miles east-southeast of Grand Cayman. Isidore is moving toward the northwest near 7 mph, and this motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours. Even though the center of Isidore will be moving away from Jamaica Wednesday afternoon, conditions there will be slow to improve since most of the heavy rains and winds are located to the east of the center, according to the NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Tropical Storm Isidore taken at 10:45 a.m. EDT on Sept. 18, 2002. Click here to see latest view. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph with higher gusts. Isidore is expected to strengthen during the next 24 hours. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 85 miles mainly east of the center. Estimated minimum central pressure is 1003 mb, 29.62 inches. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Tropical Storm Isidore taken at 7:45 a.m. EDT on Sept. 18, 2002.)

Heavy rains are expected to continue over Jamaica during the next 24 hours, and these rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.

The government of the Cayman Islands has issued a tropical storm warning for the islands of Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. A tropical storm watch remains in effect for Grand Cayman. The government of Cuba has issued a hurricane watch for western Cuba, from the provinces of Villa Clara and Cienfuegos westward, including the Isle of Youth. A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Jamaica.

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