Fred weakens, but still a major hurricane

NEWS RELEASE

U.S. NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTRE

************************* FRED WEAKENS A LITTLE, BUT STILL A MAJOR HURRICANE.

AT 5 PM AST THE CENTER OF HURRICANE FRED WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 14.8 NORTH, LONGITUDE 33.3 WEST OR ABOUT 595 MILES (955 KM) WEST OF THE SOUTHERNMOST CAPE VERDE ISLANDS.

FRED IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 13 MPH (20 KM/HR).

A GRADUAL TURN TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST AND NORTH WITH A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 115 MPH (185 KM/HR) WITH HIGHER GUSTS.

FRED IS A CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE.

ADDITIONAL WEAKENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 30 MILES (45 KM) FROM THE CENTER, AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 115 MILES (185 KM).

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 960 MB (28.35 INCHES).

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