Hurricane Igor threatens Puerto Rico, islands (video)

NEWS RELEASE

U.S. NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTRE

************************* AT 500 PM AST (2100 UTC) THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IGOR WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 18.8 NORTH, LONGITUDE 53.1 WEST.

IGOR IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 8 MPH (13 KM/HR).

THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TONIGHT FOLLOWED BY A GRADUAL TURN TOWARD THE NORTHWEST BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 145 MPH (230 KM/HR) WITH HIGHER GUSTS.

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

SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN INTENSITY ARE POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS BUT IGOR IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN A VERY POWERFUL HURRICANE THROUGH THURSDAY.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 45 MILES (75 KM) FROM THE CENTER AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 205 MILES (335 KM).

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 933 MB (27.55 INCHES).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND:

SURF...LARGE SWELLS GENERATED BY IGOR WILL BEGIN AFFECTING THE LEEWARD ISLANDS TODAY AND WILL REACH PUERTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY.

THESE SWELLS ARE LIKELY TO CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING SURF AND RIP CURRENT CONDITIONS.

PLEASE CONSULT PRODUCTS FROM YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

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