Published On:Wednesday, September 01, 2010

A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions can be

felt in the identified area within 36 hours…

At 8am, the center of Hurricane Earl was located near latitude 24.5 degrees north and longitude 71.6 degrees west or about 180 miles east of San Salvador.

Earl is moving toward the northwest near 16 miles per hour. This general motion is expected to continue today with a gradual turn to the north-northwest thereafter. On the forecast track the core of Earl will be passing well east and northeast of The Bahamas today and tonight.

Maximum sustained winds are near 125 miles per hour with higher gusts making Earl a category three hurricane on the saffir-simpson scale. Some fluctuations in strength is possible during the next 48 hours. Earl is a large hurricane and hurricane force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 200 miles from the center.

Residents in San Salvador can expect heavy downpour, strong gusty winds up to tropical storm force, flooding in low-lying areas and dangerous battering waves up to 25 feet today…gradually subsiding by tonight.

Therefore, residents in San Salvador should remain indoors once conditions begin to deterioate and remain ready to take the quick action should the hurricane change course and increase its threat.

Residents in San Salvador should continue to monitor the progress of Earl and remain in doors during the passage of the feeder bands which can produce heavy downpours and strong gusty winds.

Small craft operators in these central and bahamas should remain in port and continue to monitor the progress of Earl.