LILI ENTERS THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO AND
CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN

(See NOAA's National Hurricane Center for the latest information on this storm. Complete advisories are posted at 11 a.m., 5 p.m., 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. All times are Eastern. Advisories are posted more frequently as the storm nears the USA mainland.)

October 1, 2002 — At 5 p.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Lili was located near latitude 22.7 north, longitude 85.0 west or about 55 miles north of Cabo San Antonio, Cuba. This is also about 600 miles southeast of New Orleans, La. Lili is moving toward the northwest near 15 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours. This motion should take the center away from western Cuba and into the open Gulf of Mexico Tuesday night, according to the NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Lili taken at 4:45 p.m. EDT on Oct. 1, 2002. Click here to see latest view. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph with higher gusts. This makes Lili a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane scale. Additional strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 40 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 155 miles. Some squalls with gusts to tropical storm force may occur over portions of the lower Florida Keys Tuesday evening. (Click NOAA aerial photo for larger view of Hurricane Lili taken at 2:24 p.m EDT on Sept. 30, 2002, from a NOAA P-3 Orion hurricane hunter aircraft. Click here to see high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

The estimated minimum central pressure is 970 mb, 28.64 inches. Storm surge flooding along the western coasts of Cuba should decrease Tuesday night. Rainfall accumulations of 8 to 12 inches, with isolated higher amounts, are likely near the path of Lili. These rains could cause life-threatening flash flooding and mud slides in mountainous areas of Cuba.

A hurricane watch is in effect along the northern Gulf Coast from San Louis Pass, Texas, to the mouth of the Mississippi River as of 5 p.m EDT. A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions are possible in the watch area within 36 hours. A tropical storm watch is in effect east of the mouth of the Mississippi River to Pascagoula, Miss., including New Orleans and Lake Ponchartrain. A tropical storm watch means tropical storm conditions are possible in the watch area within 36 hours. A hurricane warning remains in effect for the Cuban provinces of Matanzas, Ciudad de La Habana, La Habana, Pinar del Rio and the Isle of Youth. A tropical storm watch remains in effect for the north coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from Cozumel to Progreso. (Click NOAA aerial photo for larger view of Hurricane Lili taken at 2:22p.m. EDT on Sept. 30, 2002, from a NOAA P-3 Orion hurricane hunter aircraft. Click here to see high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by NOAA National Weather Service local forecast offices.

LAST TIME A HURRICANE STRUCK THE U.S. MAINLAND

Bret, Padre Island, south Texas, Aug. 22, 1999. Sustained winds of 115 mph, Category 3.

Floyd, Cape Fear, N.C., Sept. 16, 1999. Sustained winds of 105 mph, Category 2.

Irene, south Florida, October 15, 1999. Sustained winds of 75 mph, Category 1.

During their lifetimes, both storms were Category 4 but weakened before landfall.

Last U.S. land falling Category 5 storm: Andrew, Dade County, Florida, Aug. 24, 1992

Last U.S. land falling Category 4 storm: Hugo, Charleston, S.C., September 22, 1989

Last U.S. land falling Category 3 storm: Bret, Padre Island, south Texas, Aug. 22, 1999

Click NOAA tracking map for larger view.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA's National Hurricane Center — Get the latest advisories here

NOAA's Atlantic Hurricanes Database — 150 Years of Atlantic Hurricanes

El Niño Expected to Impact Atlantic Hurricane Season, NOAA Reports

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

NOAA's River Forecast Centers

NOAA's Flood Products

NOAA Rainfall Graphics
24-hour Observed Precipitation as of 8 a.m. today

Latest rainfall data as of 8 a.m. EDT today

NOAA Buoys

NOAA's Tides Online

NOAA Satellite Images — The latest satellite views

Colorized Satellite Images

NOAA 3-D Satellite Images

NOAA's Hurricanes Page

NOAA's Storm Watch — Get the latest severe weather information across the USA

Media Contact:
Frank Lepore, NOAA's National Hurricane Center, (305) 229-4404
(Photos courtesy of Sean McMillan, systems crew chief aboard NOAA-42 P-3 "hurricane hunter" aircraft.)

The responsibilities of Systems Crew Chief are to plan, coordinate, document, install and upgrade the aircraft scientific systems, as well as to network the onboard computers systems with those of other scientific organizations.

These computer systems are interconnected using a variety of network protocols. i.e. Ethernet, serial RS-232, RS-422, TCP/IP. Once the aircraft systems are installed and configured, he is responsible for their operation, maintenance and repair.