BONNIE MAKING LANDFALL NEAR APALACHICOLA FLORIDA;
CHARLEY GETTING A LITTLE STRONGER; HURRICANE WATCH EXTENDED
NORTHWARD ALONG THE FLORIDA WEST COAST

Aug. 12, 2004 — At 11 a.m. EDT, the poorly defined center of Tropical Storm Bonnie was located near latitude 29.5 north, longitude 85.2 west or about 20 miles southwest of Apalachicola, Fla. Bonnie is accelerating and is now moving toward the northeast near 28 mph. This general motion is expected to continue Thursday, according to the NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley taken at 9:15 a.m. EDT on Aug. 12, 2004. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph with higher gusts. Weakening is forecast during the next 24 hours.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles mainly to the southeast of the center. (Click NOAA Tropical Storm Bonnie tracking map for larger view.)

Estimated minimum central pressure is 1002 mb, 29.59 inches.

Coastal storm surge flooding of 2 to 5 feet above normal tide levels, along with large and dangerous battering waves, is now occurring near and to the right of the center.

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

Isolated tornadoes are also possible along the path and to the east of Bonnie.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect from Destin, Fla., to the mouth of the Suwanee River.

At 11 a.m. EDT, the tropical storm warning to the west of Destin is discontinued.

CHARLEY GETTING A LITTLE STRONGER; HURRICANE WATCH EXTENDED
NORTHWARD ALONG THE FLORIDA WEST COAST

At 11 a.m. EDT, information from reconnaissance aircraft and radar from Cuba indicate the center of Hurricane Charley was located near latitude 19.7 north, longitude 81.2 west or about 25 miles north of Grand Cayman. Charley is moving toward the northwest near 17 mph. A turn to the north-northwest is expected later Thursday. Maximum sustained winds are near 90 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours. (Click NOAA satellite close-up image for larger view of Hurricane Charley taken at 9:15 a.m. EDT on Aug. 12, 2004. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 115 miles.

The minimum central pressure recently reported by reconnaissance aircraft was 983 mb, 29.03 inches. (Click NOAA Hurricane Charley tracking map for larger view.)

Above normal tides, accompanied by large and dangerous battering waves, are expected in the Cayman Islands later Thursday. Storm surge flooding of 2 to 4 feet can be expected in the Florida Keys. Storm surge flooding of 6 to 10 feet are possible along the southwest Florida coast.

Rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches are likely in association with Charley. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.

A hurricane warning remains in effect for the Florida Keys from the Dry Tortugas to the Seven Mile Bridge and for the southwest Florida coast from East Cape Sable to Bonita Beach. The warning will likely be extended northward later Thursday or Thursday night. A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion, according to the NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of both Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley taken at 8:45 a.m. EDT on Aug. 12, 2004, as both storms take aim at parts of Florida. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

At 11 a.m. EDT, the hurricane watch has been extended northward along the Florida west coast to the Suwanee River. The hurricane watch is now in effect from north of Bonita Beach to the Suwanee river. A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 36 hours.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the Florida Keys from the Seven Mile Bridge to Ocean Reef and along the south Florida mainland from Ocean Reef to East Cape Sable, including all of Florida Bay. A tropical storm watch may be required for portions of the Florida east coast later Thursday.

A hurricane warning remains in effect for the Cayman Islands.

At 11 a.m. EDT, the government of Cuba issued a hurricane warning for the following provinces of western Cuba: Pinar del Rio, La Habana, Ciudad de la Habana, Matanzas and the Isle of Youth. The government of Jamaica discontinued all warnings for Jamaica.

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