LILI CONTINUES TO GET BETTER ORGANIZED AND POISED TO STRENGTHEN
EVEN MORE OVER THE SOUTHEAST GULF OF MEXICO

(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 11 p.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Lili was located near latitude 23.3 north, longitude 86.3 west or about 135 miles north-northeast of the northeast tip of the Yucatan Peninsula. This is also about 520 miles south-southeast of New Orleans, La. Lili is moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours, according to the NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Lili taken at 11:15 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. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours, and Lili could become a major hurricane on Wednesday. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 40 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 175 miles.

The minimum central pressure observed by an Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter aircraft is 966 mb, 28.53 inches. Additional rainfall of 4 to 6 inches, with isolated higher amounts, is possible over western Cuba. These rains could cause life-threatening flash flooding and mud slides in mountainous areas of Cuba. Rainfall totals of 2 to 3 inches, with locally higher amounts, are possible over the northern Yucatan Peninsula on Wednesday.

A hurricane watch remains in effect along the northern Gulf Coast from San Luis Pass, Texas, to the mouth of the Mississippi River. 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 Pontchartrain. A tropical storm watch means tropical storm conditions are possible in the watch area within 36 hours. A hurricane warning will likely be required for a portion of the United States watch area Wednesday morning. A tropical storm watch remains in effect for the north coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from Cozumel to Progreso.

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