CHANTAL SLOWS DOWN AND STRENGTHENS SLIGHTLY
AS IT BECOMES BETTER ORGANIZED
August 19, 2001 — At 5 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Chantal was located near latitude 15.5 north, longitude 78.6 west or about 315 miles south-southeast of the Cayman Islands. This is also about 205 miles southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, according to NOAA's National Hurricane Center. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Tropical Storm Chantal taken August 17, 2001 at 1:12 p.m. EDT. Click here to see latest satellite image.)
Chantal is moving toward the west near 12 mph, and a general motion toward the west or west-northwest is expected for the next 24 hours or so. Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours, and Chantal could become a hurricane later Sunday or early Monday. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 145 miles mainly north and east from the center. Estimated minimum central pressure is 994 Mb, 29.35 inches.
Rainfall totals of 3 to 5 inches with locally heavier amounts in mountainous areas are possible along the path of Chantal.
A tropical storm warning continues in effect for Jamaica and the Cayman islands. A tropical storm watch continues in effect for Belize and for the Yucatan Peninsula from Chetumal to Cancun. A hurricane watch remains in effect for the Cayman Islands. The government of Jamaica has discontinued the hurricane watch for all of the country.
For storm information for specific areas of the USA, please monitor products issued by National Weather Service local forecast offices.
Storm Advisories updated 5 a.m., 11 a.m., 5 p.m., and 11 p.m. EDT; every three hours if a Watch/Warning is in effect.
NOAA satellite images updated 15 minutes past the hour; Atlantic Coast and Gulf of Mexico and close-ups also updated at 45 past the hour.
Click NOAA tracking map for larger view.
Relevant Web Sites
NOAA's National Hurricane Center — Get the latest advisories here
NOAA Satellite Images — The latest satellite views
Colorized Satellite Images
NOAA 3-D Satellite Images
NOAA's Hurricanes Page
NOAA's Storm Watch — Get the latest severe weather information across the USA
Media Contact:
Frank Lepore, NOAA's National Hurricane Center, (305) 229-4404
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