Hurricane Florence Advisory Number 44 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL062018 500 AM AST Mon Sep 10 2018
...FLORENCE RAPIDLY STRENGTHENING... ...EXPECTED TO BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE VERY SOON...
SUMMARY OF 500 AM AST...0900 UTC...INFORMATION
LOCATION...24.9N 58.9W ABOUT 625 MI...1005 KM SE OF BERMUDA ABOUT 535 MI...860 KM NNE OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...105 MPH...165 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 285 DEGREES AT 9 MPH...15 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...969 MB...28.62 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
Interests in the southeastern and mid-Atlantic states should monitor the progress of Florence.
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK ---------------------- At 500 AM AST (0900 UTC), the center of Hurricane Florence was located near latitude 24.9 North, longitude 58.9 West. Florence is moving toward the west-northwest near 9 mph (15 km/h). A west-northwestward motion with an increase in forward speed is expected during the next couple of days. A turn toward the northwest is forecast to occur Wednesday night or Thursday. On the forecast track, the center of Florence will move over the southwestern Atlantic Ocean between Bermuda and the Bahamas Tuesday and Wednesday, and approach the southeastern coast of the United States on Thursday.
Satellite imagery indicates that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 105 mph (165 km/h) with higher gusts. Rapid strengthening is forecast, and Florence is forecast to become a major hurricane this morning, and is expected to remain an extremely dangerous major hurricane through Thursday.
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 969 mb (28.62 inches).