BONNIE CONTINUING NORTHEASTWARD; HURRICANE WARNING ISSUED
CHARLEY MOVING NEAR JAMAICA, HEADED FOR THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

Aug. 11, 2004 — At 5 p.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Bonnie was located near latitude 26.7 north, longitude 89.3 west or about 165 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River. This is also about 340 miles southwest of Apalachicola, Fla. Bonnie is moving toward the northeast near 12 mph. This general motion, with a gradual increase in forward speed, is forecast to continue for the next 24 hours. On the forecast track, Bonnie is expected to make landfall along the central panhandle of Florida Thursday morning, according to the NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Tropical Storm Bonnie taken at 3:45 p.m. EDT on Aug. 11, 2004. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is possible during the next 24 hours, and Bonnie could become a hurricane later Wednesday night or Thursday morning. (Click NOAA Tropical Storm Bonnie tracking map for larger view.)

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center. NOAA buoy 42001, located east of the center of Bonnie, reported a wind gust to 76 mph earlier Wednesday.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1001 mb, 29.56 inches.

Coastal storm surge flooding of 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels, along with large and dangerous battering waves, can be expected near and to the right of where the center makes landfall.

Additional rainfall accumulations of 4 to 6 inches, with isolated higher amounts, can be expected in association with Bonnie.

Isolated tornadoes are also possible by Thursday morning over the Florida panhandle.

At 5 p.m. EDT, a hurricane warning has been issued for portions of the Florida panhandle and northwest Florida from Destin eastward to the mouth of the Suwanee River.

A hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning remain in effect for the western Florida panhandle from west of Destin westward to the Alabama/Florida border.

CHARLEY MOVING NEAR JAMAICA, HEADED FOR THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

At 5 p.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Charley was located near latitude 17.0 north, longitude 77.5 west or about 85 miles southwest of Kingston, Jamaica. Charley is moving toward the west-northwest near 17 mph, and a gradual turn toward the northwest is expected during the next 24 hours. On this track, the center will be passing south of or very near the southwest coast of Jamaica Wednesday night. Rain bands with tropical storm force winds in squalls will affect much of Jamaica Wednesday night. These conditions will begin to spread over the Cayman Islands early Thursday. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Charley taken at 3:45 p.m. EDT on Aug. 11, 2004. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 115 miles. (Click NOAA Hurricane Charley tracking map for larger view.)

Estimated minimum central pressure is 993 mb, 29.32 inches.

Above normal tides, accompanied by large and dangerous battering waves, are likely along the coasts of Jamaica Wednesday night and the Cayman Islands Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

Rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches are likely in association with Charley.

At 5 p.m. EDT, the government of Jamaica issued a hurricane warning for Jamaica.

At 5 p.m. EDT, the hurricane watch has been extended to include the Florida Keys east of Craig Key to Ocean Reef, including Florida Bay, and a hurricane watch has been issued for the southwest coast of Florida from Flamingo northward to Bonita Beach. A hurricane watch is now in effect from Dry Tortugas to Ocean Reef, including Florida Bay and from Flamingo northward to Bonita Beach. A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 36 hours. The hurricane watch will likely be extended northward along the Florida west coast Wednesday night or early Thursday.

A hurricane warning remains in effect for the Cayman Islands.

A hurricane watch remains in effect for the following provinces of western Cuba: Pinar del Rio, La Habana, Ciudad de la Habana, Matanzas and the Isle of Youth. This watch will probably be changed to a hurricane warning Wednesday night.

For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by NOAA National Weather Service local forecast offices and statements from local emergency management officials.

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Relevant Web Sites
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NOAA Atlantic Hurricanes Database — 150 Years of Atlantic Hurricanes

Above-normal 2004 Atlantic Hurricane Season Predicted

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