TAMMY TURNS NORTHWESTWARD TO THE EAST OF DOMINICA… …HURRICANE CONDITIONS AND HEAVY RAINFALL EXPECTED OVER THE LEEWARD ISLANDS LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT… SUMMARY OF 500 AM AST…0900 UTC…INFORMATION ———————————————- LOCATION…15.2N 60.4W ABOUT 60 MI…100 KM ESE OF DOMINICA ABOUT 100 MI…160 KM SE OF GUADELOUPE MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…80 MPH…130 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT…NW OR 305 DEGREES AT 9 MPH…15 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…991 MB…29.27 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS ——————– CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY: None. SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT: A Hurricane Warning is in effect for… * Guadeloupe * Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, St. Kitts, Nevis, and Anguilla * St. Maarten * St. Martin and St. Barthelemy A Hurricane Watch is in effect for… * Dominica * Saba and St. Eustatius A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for… * Dominica * Saba and St. Eustatius A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for… * Martinique * British Virgin Islands A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case within the next 24 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area, in this case within the next 24 hours. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area. For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service. DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK ———————- At 500 AM AST (0900 UTC), the center of Hurricane Tammy was located near latitude 15.2 North, longitude 60.4 West. Tammy is now moving toward the northwest near 9 mph (15 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue through tonight. A turn toward the north-northwest is forecast on Sunday, followed by a turn toward the north on Monday. On the forecast track, the center of Tammy will move near or over portions of the Leeward Islands through early Sunday, and then move north of the northern Leeward Islands by Sunday afternoon. Maximum sustained winds are near 80 mph (130 km/h) with higher gusts. Fluctuations in intensity are possible during the next few days, but Tammy is expected to remain a hurricane while it passes near or over the Leeward Islands. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles (205 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 991 mb (29.27 inches). HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ———————- Key messages for Tammy can be found in the Tropical Cyclone Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT5 and WMO header WTNT45 KNHC and on the web at hurricanes.gov/text/MIATCDAT5.shtml WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected to begin in the hurricane warning area later this morning and spread northward across the Leeward Islands today and tonight. Tropical storm conditions are expected within the tropical storm warning areas today and tonight. Hurricane conditions are possible in the hurricane watch areas today and tonight. Tropical storm conditions are possible on Martinique today and the British Virgin Islands tonight and Sunday. RAINFALL: Tammy is expected to produce the following storm total rainfall: Leeward Islands: 4 to 8 inches with maximum amounts of 12 inches. Portions of the Windward Islands: 2 to 4 inches with maximum amounts of 6 inches. British and U.S. Virgin Islands into eastern Puerto Rico: 1 to 2 inches with maximum amounts of 4 inches. These rains may produce isolated flash and urban flooding, along with isolated mudslides in areas of higher terrain. STORM SURGE: Storm surge could raise water levels by as much as 1 to 3 feet above normal tide levels near where the center of Tammy moves across the Leeward Islands. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. SURF: Swells generated by Tammy will continue to affect portions of the Lesser Antilles during the next few days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.