Published On:Monday, August 30, 2010

 A TROPICAL STORM-WARNING REMAINS IS IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS.WHILE A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLANDS OF INAGUA, MAYAGUANA, ACKLINS, CROOKED ISLAND AND LONG CAY OF THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.

 A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS CAN BE FELT IN THE IDENTIFIED AREA WITHIN 36 HOURS WHILE A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA….GENERALLY WITHIN 48 HOURS.

AT 9:00PM EDT THE CENTER OF HURRICANE EARL WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 19.7 DEGREES NORTH AND LONGITUDE 65.5 DEGREES WEST OR ABOUT 489 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF GRAND TURKS, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS.

 EARL IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 14 MILES PER HOUR.  A TURN TOWARD THE NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED ON TUESDAY.  ON THE FORECAST TRACK EARL IS EXPECTED TO  PASS JUST TO THE EAST OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 135 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS.  EARL IS A MAJOR CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE.  ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES FROM ITS CENTER, AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 200 MILES FROM ITS CENTER.

RESIDENTS IN THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLAND SHOULD REMAIN ALERT AND BE READY TO TAKE QUICK ACTION SHOULD THE STORM SHIFT COURSE AND INCREASE ITS THREAT.

RESIDENTS IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF EARL AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE THE NECESSARY ACTION SHOULD THE NEED ARISE.

GUSTY WINDS TO TROPICAL STORM FORCE AND LOCALIZED FLOODING IN LOW LYING AREAS CAN BE EXPECTED LATE TUESDAY NIGHT AND EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING AS EARL PASSES EAST OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS.

SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT AND CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF EARL.