Igor weeakens slightly

NEWS RELEASE

U.S. NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTRE

****************************** HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT REACHES IGOR.

AT 500 PM AST, 2100 UTC, THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IGOR WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 21.7 NORTH, LONGITUDE 58.1 WEST.

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

THIS GENERAL MOTION WITH AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 125 MPH, 205 KM/HR, WITH HIGHER GUSTS.

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

SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN STRENGTH ARE POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, BUT IGOR IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN A LARGE AND POWERFUL HURRICANE.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES, 165 KM, FROM THE CENTER, AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 290 MILES, 465 KM.

NOAA BUOY 41044 RECENTLY REPORTED SUSTAINED WINDS OF 70 MPH, 113 KM/HR, WITH GUSTS TO 81 MPH, 130 KM/HR.

THE LATEST MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT IS 940 MB, 27.76 INCHES.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

SURF - LARGE SWELLS WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE LEEWARD ISLANDS, PUERTO RICO, THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, HISPANIOLA, AND PORTIONS OF THE BAHAMAS DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

THESE SWELLS WILL ALSO CAUSE DANGEROUS SURF CONDITIONS IN BERMUDA DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS, WORSENING AS IGOR APPROACHES.

SWELLS WILL REACH THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES LATER TODAY AND FRIDAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH 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.

******************************