EAGER EDOUARD VERY CLOSE TO THE NORTH-CENTRAL FLORIDA COAST

September 4, 2002 — At 5 p.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Edouard was located near latitude 29.6 north, longitude 81.0 west or about 25 miles southeast of St. Augustine, Fla. Edouard is moving toward the west-southwest near 7 mph. This general motion, with some decrease in speed, is expected to continue for the next 24 hours. On this track the center of Edouard will be crossing the coast in the warning area within the next several hours, according to NOAA’s National Hurricane Center. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Tropical Storm Edouard taken at 4:15 p.m. EDT on Sept. 4, 2002. Click here to see latest view. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts. Winds to just below tropical storm force were recently reported at St. Augustine. Little change in strength is expected prior to landfall. Edouard is expected to become a tropical depression Thursday.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 85 miles, mainly east of the center. Estimated minimum central pressure is 1009 mb, 29.80 inches. Rainfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches, with locally higher amounts, are expected near the path of Edouard. Isolated tornadoes are possible in squalls near the coastline. (Click photo for larger view of Tropical Storm Edouard taken by scientists aboard NOAA’s Gulfstream-IV “hurricane hunting” aircraft during a surveillance mission on Sept. 3, 2002.)

A tropical storm warning remains in effect from Titusville, Fla., to Brunswick, Ga. A tropical storm watch remains in effect from south of Titusville to Sebastian Inlet, Fla.

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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Frank Lepore, NOAA's National Hurricane Center, (305) 229-4404