Igor's dangerous surf expected to affect U.S. coast

NEWS RELEASE

U.S. NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTRE

****************************** LARGE AND POWERFUL IGOR MOVING SLOWLY NORTHWESTWARD.

AT 1100 AM AST, 1500 UTC, THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IGOR WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 21.1 NORTH, LONGITUDE 57.2 WEST.

IGOR IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 7 MPH, 11 KM/HR.

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

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 140 MPH, 220 KM/HR, WITH HIGHER GUSTS.

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

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

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES, 110 KM, FROM THE CENTER, AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 275 MILES, 445 KM.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 934 MB, 27.58 INCHES.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

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

THESE SWELLS WILL ALSO CAUSE DANGEROUS SURF CONDITIONS IN BERMUDA DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.

THESE SURF CONDITIONS WILL WORSEN AS IGOR APPROACHES BERMUDA.

THE LARGE SWELLS ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO REACH PORTIONS OF THE BAHAMAS LATER TODAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

SWELLS WILL REACH THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES LATER TODAY AND FRIDAY THROUGH AT LEAST SUNDAY.

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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