NOAA News || NOAA Home Page

October 6, 2001 — At 11 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Iris was located near latitude 16.7 north, longitude 71.2 west or about 65 miles south-southeast of Cabo Beata in the Barahona peninsula, Dominican Republic. Iris is moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph. On this track the center of Iris will be passing close to the south coast of Haiti Saturday, and will be near Jamaica early Sunday. Maximum sustained winds remain near 65 mph with higher gusts. Iris could become a hurricane Saturday night or Sunday, according to NOAA's National Hurricane Center. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Tropical Storm Iris and Tropical Depression Twelve taken Oct. 6, 2001 at 11:15 a.m. EDT. Click here to see latest satellite image.)

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center. Latest minimum central pressure reported by a reconnaissance plane was 998 mb, 29.47 inches.

Coastal storm surge flooding of 4 to 5 feet above normal tide levels along with dangerous battering waves can be expected along portions of the southern coast of Hispaniola Saturday. Outer rain bands are spreading over Hispaniola. Rainfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches with isolated higher amounts can be expected near the path of Iris.

The government of Jamaica issued a hurricane warning for Jamaica, and the government of Cuba issued a hurricane warning for eastern Cuba for the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo. In addition, the government of the Cayman Islands issued a hurricane watch for the Cayman Islands.

A hurricane warning remains in effect along the south coast of the Dominican Republic from Barahona to La Beata and along the south coast of Haiti from the Dominican Republic border to Anse D'hainault. A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the south coast of the Dominican Republic from Punta Palenque to Barahona. A hurricane watch remains in effect for eastern Cuba for the provinces of Las Tunas and Camaguey.

NEW TROPICAL DEPRESSION FORMS EAST OF THE WINDWARD ISLANDS

NOAA satellite images indicate the area of low pressure in the Atlantic has become better organized and is now Tropical Depression Twelve. At 11 a.m. EDT, the center of the newly-formed tropical depression was located near latitude 11.2 north, longitude 51.1 west or about 740 miles east-southeast of the Windward Islands.

The depression is moving toward the west-northwest near 14 mph, and this motion is expected to continue during the next 24 hours.

Maximum sustained winds are near 30 mph with higher gusts. The depression has the potential to become a tropical storm during the next day or so. Estimated minimum central pressure is 1008 mb, 29.77 inches.

All interests in the Leeward Islands should monitor the progress of this system.

For storm information for specific areas of the USA, please monitor products issued by NOAA's National Weather Service local forecast offices.

Storm Advisories updated 5 a.m., 11 a.m., 5 p.m., and 11 p.m. EDT; every three hours if a Watch/Warning is in effect.

NOAA satellite images updated 15 minutes past the hour; Atlantic Coast and Gulf of Mexico and close-ups also updated at 45 past the hour.

Click NOAA tracking map for larger view.

Click NOAA tracking map for larger view.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA's National Hurricane Center — Get the latest advisories here

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

NOAA Satellite Images — The latest satellite views

Colorized Satellite Images

NOAA 3-D Satellite Images

NOAA's Hurricanes Page

NOAA's Storm Watch — Get the latest severe weather information across the USA

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