NOAA News Online (Story 2291)

CHARLEY STRENGTHENS TO CATEGORY 3 AS IT HEADS TOWARD FLORIDA WEST COAST

(DISCLAIMER: See the NOAA National Hurricane Center for the latest information on this storm. Complete advisories are posted at 11 a.m., 5 p.m., 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. All times are Eastern. Advisories are posted more frequently as the storm nears the USA mainland.)
Latest NOAA Satellite Image of Charley (Visible)	Latest NOAA Infrared Satellite Image of Charley	Latest NOAA Key West, Fla., Radar Image	NOAA Satellite/Radar Time Conversion

NOAA satellite image of Hurricane Charley taken at 12:15 p.m. EDT on Aug. 13, 2004.

Aug. 13, 2004 — At 1 p.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Charley was located near latitude 25.7 north, longitude 82.5 west or about 70 miles south-southwest of Fort Myers, Fla. Charley is now moving toward the north-northeast near 20 mph, and this motion is expected to continue Friday with an increase in forward speed. On this track, the center of the hurricane should reach the coast in the vicinity of Charlotte Harbor later Friday afternoon, according to the NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Charley taken at 12:15 p.m. EDT on Aug. 13, 2004. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Recent reports from a reconnaissance aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 125 mph with higher gusts. This makes Hurricane Charley a Category Three on the Saffir/Simpson hurricane scale—a very dangerous storm. These strongest winds are confined to a small area within a few miles from Charley’s center. (Click NOAA Hurricane Charley tracking map for larger view.)

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles.

Estimated minimum central pressure is 964 mb, 28.46 inches.

NOAA Key West, Fla., radar image of Hurricane Charley taken at 12:30 p.m. EDT on Aug. 13, 2004.

Storm surge flooding in the Florida Keys will be subsiding later Friday. Storm surge flooding of 10 to 13 feet is expected near and south of the where the center crosses the Florida west coast. Storm surge flooding of 4 to 7 feet along and near the Georgia coast in the next 24 hours with lesser flooding to the north and south. (Click NOAA Key West, Fla., radar image for larger view of Hurricane Charley taken at 12:30 p.m. EDT on Aug. 13, 2004. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches are likely along Charley’s path across the eastern United States. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods.

Isolated tornadoes are possible across parts of southern and central Florida, including the Florida Keys Friday.

NOAA close-up satellite image of the eye of Hurricane Charley taken at 10:45 a.m. EDT on Aug. 13, 2004.

A hurricane warning remains in effect for the Florida Keys from the Dry Tortugas to the Seven Mile Bridge and for the Florida west coast from East Cape Sable northward to the Steinhatchee River. A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area during the next 24 hours. Preparations should be rushed to completion. (Click NOAA close-up satellite image for larger view of the eye of Hurricane Charley taken at 10:45 a.m. EDT on Aug. 13, 2004. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

NOAA satellite image of Hurricane Charley taken at 11:15 a.m. EDT on Aug. 13, 2004.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the Florida and Georgia coasts from Cocoa Beach, Fla., to Altamaha Sound, Ga., northward to the South Santee River. 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 Florida Bay and Lake Okeechobee. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Charley taken at 11:15 a.m. EDT on Aug. 13, 2004. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

At 11 a.m. EDT, the tropical storm watch has been extended northward to Oregon Inlet, N.C. A tropical storm watch is now in effect for the southeastern U.S. coast from Ocean Reef northward to south of Cocoa Beach and from the South Santee River northward to Oregon Inlet, N.C., including Pamlico Sound.

At 11 a.m. EDT, a hurricane watch is in effect from Flagler Beach, Fla., northward to the Savannah River near the Georgia/South Carolina border.

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.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation’s coastal and marine resources. NOAA is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.