Hurricane 988mb 27.9 94.4 west at 8

[wrkh99]

Hurricane Claudette Intermediate Advisory Number 26a


midnight CDT Tue Jul 15 2003

...Claudette now a hurricane...still moving west...

a Hurricane Warning remains in effect along the Texas coast from
Baffin Bay to High Island. A Tropical Storm Warning remains in
effect north of High Island Texas to Intracoastal City Louisiana.

A Hurricane Watch remains in effect south of Baffin Bay to
Brownsville Texas.

At midnight CDT...0500z...the center of Hurricane Claudette was
located near latitude 27.9 north... longitude 94.4 west or about
175 miles east of Corpus Christi Texas.

Claudette is moving toward the west near 8 mph and this general
motion is expected to continue with a slight increase in forward
speed over the next 24 hours. On the current forecast track...
Claudette will be near the central Texas coast by tomorrow evening.

Air Force reserve reconnaissance aircraft recently reported maximum
sustained winds near 75 mph...which makes Claudette a category one
hurricane. Some additional strengthening is possible before
Claudette makes landfall.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles from the
center. Reports from a reconnaissance aircraft also indicate
tropical storm force winds are approaching the Upper Texas coast
near Galveston Island.

The latest pressure measured by an Air Force reserve unit
reconnaissance aircraft was 988 mb...29.18 inches.

Storm surge flooding of 3 to 5 feet above normal tide levels...
accompanied by large and dangerous battering waves...can be
expected in the warning area near and to the north of where the
center crosses the coast. Large swells have been impacting the
shorelines along the Texas coast and are creating above normal
tides and dangerous surf conditions.

Storm total rainfall of 5 to 8 inches is possible in association
with Claudette.

Repeating the midnight CDT position......27.9 N... 94.4 W. Movement
toward...west near 8 mph. Maximum sustained winds... 75 mph.
Minimum central pressure... 988 mb.

For storm information specific to your area...please monitor
products issued by your local weather office.

An intermediate advisory will be issued by the National
Hurricane Center at 2 am CDT followed by the next
complete advisory at 4 am CDT.

[weatherlover427]

[JetMaxx]

I figured that 77 kt wind speed at flight level would prompt an upgrade.

[Colin]

Finally! The NHC finally figured out that it was a hurricane...let's see what she does! :o