EDOUARD CONTINUES TO WEAKEN AS IT APPROACHES THE EAST COAST

September 3, 2002 — At 5 p.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Edouard was located near latitude 29.8 north, longitude 79.2 west or about 120 miles east-northeast of Daytona Beach, Fla. Edouard is moving toward the west-southwest near 6 mph, and this motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours. On this track, the center of Edouard is expected to make landfall on the north-central Florida coast on Wednesday, according to NOAA’s National Hurricane Center. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Tropical Storm Edouard taken at 4:45 p.m. EDT on Sept. 3, 2002. Click here to see latest view. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph with higher gusts. Edouard is expected to continue weakening and is forecast to be a tropical depression by the time it makes landfall. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles, mainly east of the center. Estimated minimum central pressure is 1004 mb, 29.65 inches.

The tropical storm watch is extended southward to Titusville, Fla. A tropical storm watch is now in effect from Titusville to Fernandina Beach, Fla.

A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible in the watch area. While there is the possibility of tropical storm conditions within the watch area, this is not considered likely, and that is the reason a tropical storm warning is not being issued at this time.

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

Click NOAA tracking map for larger view.

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