11 a.m. update on Hurricane Felicia

NEWS RELEASE

U.S. NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTRE

************************* FELICIA ENTERS THE CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN.

RECONNAISSANCE TO INTERCEPT. INTERESTS IN HAWAII SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF FELICIA.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA IN THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS, PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE.

AT 800 AM PDT, THE CENTER OF HURRICANE FELICIA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 19.3 NORTH, LONGITUDE 140.8 WEST OR ABOUT 930 MILES (1,500 KM) EAST OF HILO HAWAII. FELICIA IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 15 MPH (24 KM/HR) AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 90 MPH (150 KM/HR) WITH HIGHER GUSTS.

FELICIA IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE.

SLOW WEAKENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 35 MILES (55 KM) FROM THE CENTER, AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 115 MILES (185 KM). THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 975 MB (28.79 INCHES).

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