Igor weakens slightly, but remains dangerous

NEWS RELEASE

U.S. NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTRE

******************************** IGOR WEAKENS A LITTLE FURTHER, STILL A LARGE AND POWERFUL HURRICANE.

AT 1100 AM AST, 1500 UTC, THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IGOR WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 19.8 NORTH, LONGITUDE 55.0 WEST.

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

A GENERAL MOTION TOWARD THE NORTHWEST WITH SOME INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 135 MPH, 215 KM/HR, WITH HIGHER GUSTS.

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

SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN STRENGTH ARE POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT OR TWO, BUT IGOR IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN A DANGEROUS HURRICANE.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 45 MILES, 75 KM, FROM THE CENTER, AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 225 MILES, 360 KM.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 942 MB, 27.82 INCHES.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

SURF - LARGE SWELLS GENERATED BY IGOR WILL AFFECT THE LEEWARD ISLANDS, PUERTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS TODAY AND THURSDAY.

THE SWELLS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH PORTIONS OF THE BAHAMAS TONIGHT AND THURSDAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

SWELLS ASSOCIATED WITH IGOR WILL ALSO REACH THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AND CONTINUE OVER THE WEEKEND.

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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