Sept. 6, 2003 � The NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla., reports that at 5 a.m. EDT the center of Hurricane Fabian was located near latitude 35.6 north, longitude 63.3 west or about 245 miles north-northeast of Bermuda. Fabian is moving toward the northeast near 21 mph, and this motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Fabian taken on Sept. 6, 2003, at 6:45 a.m. EDT. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Maximum sustained winds are near 115 mph with higher gusts. Some weakening is forecast 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. (Click NOAA tracking map of Hurricane Fabian for larger view.)

Latest minimum central pressure reported by an Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter aircraft was 956 mb, 28.23 inches.

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

NOAA WARNS HURRICANE FABIAN WHIPPING UP DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS

Although the strongest winds of Fabian will never touch the U.S. coast, the swells produced by this powerful storm will create surf dangers, including rip currents along much of the USA Northeast coast, according to NOAA.

“Swell heights of 7 to 10 feet, some locally higher, will impact beaches from eastern Florida to New England Friday and Saturday, with some rough surf continuing through Sunday from New Jersey to New England. The rip current risk will be high,” said NOAA meteorologist Jim Lushine, a rip current expert with the NOAA National Weather Service forecast office in Miami, Fla.

“Surf conditions will be hazardous, even though local winds may be light. Swim at guarded beaches and heed the advice of the beach patrol. If caught in the seaward pull of a rip current, don't try to swim directly toward shore. Instead swim across the rip current, which may be only 10 to 30 yards wide then move back to the beach. Parents and grandparents should pay careful attention to their children or grandchildren,” said Lushine.

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

HENRI WEAKENS TO A TROPICAL DEPRESSION

The NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla., reports that at 5 a.m. EDT the center of Tropical Depression Henri was located near latitude 27.7 north, longitude 83.2 west or about 35 miles southwest of St. Petersburg, Fla. The depression is drifting eastward near 3 mph. A motion toward the northeast with a slight increase in forward speed is expected to bring the depression across Florida during the next 24 hours. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Tropical Depression Henri taken on Sept. 6, 2003, at 6:15 a.m. EDT. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 30 mph with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast as the depression moves across Florida.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1005 mb, 29.68 inches. (Click NOAA tracking map of Tropical Depression Henri for larger view.)

Additional rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are likely over portions of Florida Saturday.

A risk of isolated tornados continues for Florida mainly over the central and north portions.

All tropical storm warnings are discontinued along the Florida west coast.

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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

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