11 :p.m. update on Category 4 Hurricane Earl

NEWS RELEASE

U.S. NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER

************************* EARL CONTINUES TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

SUMMARY OF 1100 PM AST INFORMATION

LOCATION - 19.9N 65.8W

ABOUT 105 MI (170 KM) N OF SAN JUAN PUERTO RICO

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS - 135 MPH (215 KM/HR)

PRESENT MOVEMENT - WNW OR 300 DEGREES AT 14 MPH (22 KM/HR)

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE - 938 MB (27.70 INCHES)

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR:

- PUERTO RICO, INCLUDING THE ISLANDS OF CULEBRA AND VIEQUES.

- U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

- BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

- TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR:

- SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS

INTERESTS FROM THE CAROLINAS NORTHWARD TO NEW ENGLAND SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF EARL.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS, PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY THE SAN JUAN NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES, PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE.

DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK

AT 1100 PM AST, THE CENTER OF HURRICANE EARL WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 19.9 NORTH (LONGITUDE 65.8 WEST).

EARL IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 14 MPH (22 KM/HR).

THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OVERNIGHT, FOLLOWED BY A TURN TOWARD THE NORTHWEST ON TUESDAY.

ON THE FORECAST TRACK, THE CENTER OF EARL WILL PASS WELL NORTH OF PUERTO RICO OVERNIGHT AND PASS EAST OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS ON TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 135 MPH (215 KM/HR) WITH HIGHER GUSTS.

EARL IS A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE.

SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN STRENGTH ARE LIKELY OVER THE NEXT 24 TO 48 HOURS.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES (110 KM) FROM THE CENTER, AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 200 MILES (325 KM).

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 938 MB (27.70 INCHES).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

WIND - TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS WILL GRADUALLY SUBSIDE OVER THE BRITISH AND U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS OVERNIGHT.

TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS WILL AFFECT PORTIONS OF PUERTO RICO OVERNIGHT.

STRONGER WINDS, ESPECIALLY IN GUSTS, ARE LIKELY OVER ELEVATED TERRAIN IN PUERTO RICO.

TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS OVER PUERTO RICO WILL BEGIN TO SUBSIDE EARLY TUESDAY.

TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN TO SPREAD INTO THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

STORM SURGE - STORM SURGE FLOODING AND WAVES WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH OVER THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING AREA EARLY TUESDAY.

RAINFALL - EARL IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES OVER THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS, THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO, WITH POSSIBLE ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 12 INCHES, ESPECIALLY OVER HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

THESE RAINS COULD CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUDSLIDES.

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