CHANTAL A LITTLE BETTER ORGANIZED AS IT NEARS THE COAST

August 20, 2001 — At 5 p.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Chantal was located near latitude 18.1 north, longitude 87.3 west or about 70 miles east-southeast of Chetumal, Mexico. Chantal is moving toward the west-northwest near 14 mph, and on this track the center will cross the coast near the Mexico/Belize border Monday night. Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph with higher gusts. No significant change in strength is expected until landfall, according to NOAA's National Hurricane Center. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Tropical Storm Chantal taken August 20, 2001 at 6:30 a.m. EDT. Click here to see latest satellite image.)

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 200 miles mainly north and east of the center. An Air Force hurricane hunter aircraft recently reported a minimum central pressure of 1005 mb, 29.68 inches.

Storm surge flooding of 2 to 3 feet accompanied by battering waves is possible near and north of where the center crosses the coast Monday evening and 1 to 2 feet along portions of the gulf coast of Yucatan on Tuesday. Rainfall totals of 5 to 8 inches with isolated higher amounts are possible along and near the path of Chantal.

The government of Mexico has issued a tropical storm warning for the gulf coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from Progreso to Carmen. A hurricane watch remains in effect from Belize City northward to Cancun, and a tropical storm warning remains in effect for all of coastal Belize as well as for the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from the Mexico/Belize border northward to Cancun.

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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