Sept. 4, 2003 � The NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla., reports that at 11 p.m. EDT the center of Hurricane Fabian was located near latitude 27.9 north, longitude 64.7 west or about 300 miles south of Bermuda. Fabian is now moving toward the north near 17 mph, and this motion is expected to bring the core of the hurricane near or over Bermuda by late Friday. Fabian is a large and severe hurricane. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion now. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Fabian taken on Sept. 4, 2003, at 10:45 p.m. EDT. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Maximum sustained winds are near 125 mph with higher gusts. Some fluctuations in intensity are possible during the next 24 hours.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 115 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 230 miles. Fabian is a large hurricane, and tropical storm force winds are expected to reach Bermuda early Friday—well in advance of the eye. The weather should begin to deteriorate on Bermuda during the next few hours. (Click NOAA tracking map of Hurricane Fabian for larger view.)

The estimated minimum central pressure is 940 mb, 27.76 inches.

Rainfall accumulations of 5 to 10 inches, with isolated higher amounts, can be expected on

NOAA WARNS OF DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS DUE TO HURRICANE FABIAN

NOAA warns people in coastal areas along the Eastern Seaboard that Hurricane Fabian is creating dangerous rip currents. Rip currents are life threatening to anyone who enters the surf.

• More than 80 percent of all surf-related rescues are attributed to rip currents.
• According to the United States Lifesaving Association, there were more than 23,000 rip current related rescues along U.S. beaches in 1999.
• It’s estimated that each year nearly 100 people drown due to rip currents.

NOAA Rip Currents

Latest Rip Current Threat from Surf City, N.C., to South Santee River, S.C., from the NOAA National Weather Service Forecast Office in Wilmington, N.C.

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

Media contact: Greg Hernandez, NOAA, (202) 482-3091

Bermuda. Coastal storm surge flooding of 6 to 10 feet above normal tide levels, along with large and dangerous battering waves, can be expected on Bermuda. Large swells will begin to spread along portions of the East Coast of the United States on Friday.

A hurricane warning remains in effect for Bermuda.

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

TROPICAL DEPRESSION TWELVE GETTING A LITTLE BETTER ORGANIZED

The NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla., reports that at 11 p.m. EDT the center of Tropical Depression Twelve was located near latitude 27.7 north, longitude 85.5 west or about 185 miles west-southwest of Bayport, Fla. This is also about 145 miles south-southwest of Apalachicola, Fla. The depression is moving toward the east near 7 mph. A gradual turn to the east-northeast is expected during the next 24 hours. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Tropical Depression Twelve taken on Sept. 4, 2003, at 10:15 p.m. EDT. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts—mainly to the east of the center. The depression is expected to become a tropical storm on Friday.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1004 mb, 29.65 inches.

Most of the heavy rains with the depression are located well to the east of the center, and these rains are already affecting portions of the Florida Gulf Coast. Rainfall accumulations of 10 to 15 inches, with isolated higher amounts, can be expected in association with the depression. Due to saturated ground conditions and high river stages, these heavy rains could result in extreme flooding. (Click NOAA tracking map of Tropical Depression Twelve for larger view.)

Coastal storm surge flooding of 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels can be expected near and to the south of where the center makes landfall.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Gulf Coast of Florida from Englewood northward to the Aucilla River.

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

NOAA Atlantic Hurricanes Database — 150 Years of Atlantic Hurricanes

NOAA Forecasters Say Six to Nine Hurricanes Could Threaten in 2003

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

NOAA River Forecast Centers

NOAA 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

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NOAA Tides Online

NOAA Satellite Images — The latest satellite views

Colorized Satellite Images

NOAA 3-D Satellite Images

NOAA Hurricanes Page

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

Media Contact:
Frank Lepore, NOAA Hurricane Center, (305) 229-4404