Tuesday, September 9, 2008

By NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

Tropical storm warning remains in effect for all the Florida Keys.
Ike is crossing western Cuba.

At 2 p.m., the center of hurricane Ike was located near latitude 22.7 north, longitude 83.4 west, or about 160 miles south southwest of Key West.

Ike is moving toward the west-northwest near 12 mph, and this motion is expected to continue for the next day or so. On this track, Ike is expected to emerge into the se Gulf of Mexico within the next couple of hours.

Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph, with higher gusts. Ike is a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Additional strengthening is forecast to occur when Ike emerges in the southeast Gulf of Mexico.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 195 miles. The National Weather Service office observed a wind gust of 66 mph, with several land observations indicating numerous tropical storm wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph.

The minimum central pressure reported by an Air Force plane was 965 mb, or 28.50 inches.

The Florida Keys

Tropical storm warning remains in effect.

New information

Updated Hurricane Ike information for the 2 pm advisory.
Updated storm surge section to insert 2 to 4 feet on the Atlantic side for all Keys.
Updated winds section to increase tropical storm gusts.

Areas affected

This statement details specific preparedness and safety actions to be taken in the Florida Keys concerning the effects of Hurricane Ike.

Watches/warnings

A tropical storm warning is in effect for all the fl keys and the surrounding waters.

Precautionary/preparedness actions

Due to sustained tropical storm force winds of 35 to 45 mph, with occasional gusts of 55 to 65 mph, motorists should stay off the roadways. Residents who evacuated should not return until after the possibility of tropical storm winds has ended, which should be by Wednesday morning. Visitors should be able to return to the Keys by this weekend, and possibly a day or so sooner.

The following streets should be considered closed to traffic: South Roosevelt, Atlantic Boulevard and the south ends of Duval, Simonton and Whitehead streets. Mariners Hospital is open for emergencies only, while all other hospitals are closed. Dry Tortugas National Park, along with all county and state parks, are closed. Monroe County schools and county offices will be closed Wednesday. Given no significant impacts to the airports, commercial air service should resume Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning.

The decision on opening all state and federal offices will be made later today. All residents remaining in the Florida Keys should stay indoors during periods of tropical storm force winds.

Storm surge and storm tide

Storm tides of 2 to 4 feet above sea level are expected through this evening, with the highest levels late this afternoon and evening around the times of high tide. The highest storm tides will come from the Atlantic side. Flooding continues this afternoon at several low-lying areas in Key West, including portions of South Roosevelt, Atlantic Boulevard and several streets near Southernmost Point. The following are the expected times of astronomical high tides throughout the Keys.

In Key West at White Street Pier.
7:07 pm tonight, 5:39 a.m. Wednesday

In Marathon at Vaca Cut.
6:49 pm tonight, 5:21 a.m. Wednesday

In Islamorada at Whale Harbor Channel.
5:13 p.m. today, 5:18 am Wednesday

Winds

Frequent tropical storm force wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph will occur across the Florida Keys this afternoon. The wind direction will be from the east to southeast.

Rainfall impacts

An additional 1 to possibly 2 inches of rainfall could fall across the Keys this afternoon. The areas receiving the heavier rainfall amounts will experience significant ponding of fresh water on roadways and in low-lying areas.

Tornadoes

There is a possibility for isolated tornadoes throughout the Florida Keys this afternoon and tonight as Hurricane Ike passes south and southwest of the area.

Marine impacts

All boaters should remain in port, with a tropical storm warning in effect for all Keys waters. East to southeast winds of 35 to 45 knots with gusts up to 65 knots will continue this afternoon, then gradually decrease tonight. Seas will be 10 to 15 feet beyond the reef, except 15 to 20 feet over the offshore waters south of the Lower Keys and the Dry Tortugas.

Next update

The next local statement concerning the impacts of Hurricane Ike to the Florida Keys will be issued by 6 p.m. or sooner if new information becomes available.