Hurricane Danielle surprises forecasters

NEWS RELEASE

U.S. NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER

************************* DANIELLE UNEXPECTEDLY WEAKENS BUT FORECAST TO REGAIN STRENGTH.

AT 1100 AM AST (1500 UTC) THE CENTER OF HURRICANE DANIELLE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 16.6 NORTH, LONGITUDE 46.5 WEST.

DANIELLE IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 20 MPH (32 KM/HR).

A TURN TOWARD THE NORTHWEST WITH A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 80 MPH (130 KM/HR) WITH HIGHER GUSTS.

DANIELLE IS NOW A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE.

ALTHOUGH DANIELLE HAS WEAKENED RE-STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE 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 140 MILES (220 KM).

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 985 MB (29.09 INCHES).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND: NONE.

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