Go-Jamaica Weather Watch

As Jamaica continues to clean up and recover after Tropical Storm Gustav, it is keeping a keen eye on the progress of Tropical Storm Hanna.  Stay connected to the Gleaner Hub (Power 106FM, Jamaica Gleaner, the Jamaica Star and www.go-jamaica.com ) for the latest up to the moment reports.

Below is the lates Public Advisory from the National Hurricane Centre .

A tropical storm watch remains in effect for the southeastern Bahamas…including the Acklins…Crooked Island…the Inaguas…Mayaguana…and the Ragged Islands…as well as for the Turks and Caicos Islands.

For storm information specific to your area…including possible inland watches and warnings…please monitor products issued by your local weather office.

At 200 am AST…0600z…the center of Tropical Storm Hanna was located near latitude 23.0 north…longitude 68.1 west or about 220 miles…355 km…east-northeast of Grand Turk island.

Hanna is moving toward the west-northwest near 8 mph…13 km/hr. A west to west-northwestward motion is expected with a gradualdecrease in forward speed during the next couple of days.  On the forecast track…the center of Hanna is expected to move near or just northeast of the Turks and Caicos Islands late today or Monday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 55 mph…95 km/hr…with higher gusts.  Some gradual strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 200 miles…325 km from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 999 mb…29.50 inches.

Long-period swells from Hanna are expected to increase the risk of dangerous rip currents along portions of the southeastern United States coast during the next couple of days.

Repeating the 200 am AST position…23.0 N…68.1 W.  Movement toward…west-northwest near 8 mph.  Maximum sustained winds…55mph.  Minimum central pressure…999 mb.

The next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 500am AST.