TROPICAL STORM CLAUDETTE STRENGTHENS;
HURRICANE WARNINGS ISSUED FOR THE YUCATAN PENINSULA

July 10, 2003 � The NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla., reports that Claudette has strengthened and re-organized a little to the north of the previous advisory position. At 11 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Claudette was located near latitude 17.8 north, longitude 83.6 west or about 275 miles southeast of Cozumel, Mexico. Claudette is moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours. This motion could bring the center of Claudette near or over the northeastern Yucatan Peninsula late Thursday night or Friday. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Tropical Storm Claudette taken at 8 a.m. EDT on July 10, 2003. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 70 mph with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours, and Claudette could become a hurricane later Thursday or Thursday night. (Click NOAA tracking map for larger view of Tropical Storm Claudette.)

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 160 miles mainly to the north the center. Estimated minimum central pressure is 993 mb, 29.32 inches.

Above normal tides accompanied by dangerous waves along the south coasts of the Cayman Islands should begin to subside later Thursday. Storm total rainfalls of 4 to 8 inches are likely in association with Claudette. NOAA satellite imagery shows outer rainbands over the Cayman Islands and portions of Cuba at this time.

At 11 a.m. EDT, the government of Mexico issued a hurricane warning on the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from Chetumal to Cabo Catoche and a tropical storm warning along the northern and western coasts of the Yucatan Peninsula from Cabo Catoche to Campeche. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Tropical Storm Claudette taken at 8 a.m. EDT on July 10, 2003. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

At 11 a.m. EDT the government of Belize issued a tropical storm warning from Belize City northward to the Belize-Mexico border. A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Grand Cayman. A tropical storm watch remains in effect for Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. These warnings could be discontinued later Thursday.

Interests elsewhere in Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula should monitor the progress of Claudette.

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

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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

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

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NOAA Hurricanes Page

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