IRIS BECOMES A HURRICANE IN THE CARIBBEAN SEA;
TROPICAL DEPRESSION TWELVE NEARING TROPICAL STORM STRENGTH
October 6, 2001 — At 8 p.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Iris was located near latitude 17.0 north, longitude 74.0 west or about 190 miles east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica. Iris is moving toward the west near 17 mph and should be moving between the west and west-northwest during the next 24 hours. On this track Iris will be passing over or near Jamaica during the next 12 hours, according to NOAA's National Hurricane Center. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Tropical Storm Iris and Tropical Depression Twelve taken Oct. 6, 2001 at 11:15 a.m. EDT. Click here to see latest satellite image.)
Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph over a small area near the center with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 115 miles. The latest minimum central pressure reported by a reconnaissance plane was 992 mb, 29.29 inches.
Coastal storm surge flooding of 4 to 5 feet above normal tide levels along with dangerous battering waves is expected to continue to affect the southern coast of Hispaniola Saturday night and Jamaica on Sunday. Rain continues over Hispaniola. Rainfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches with isolated higher amounts can be expected near the path of iris.
A hurricane warning remains in effect along the south coast of the Dominican Republic from Barahona to Cabo Beata and along the south coast of Haiti from the Dominican Republic border to Anse D'Hainault. A hurricane warning also remains in effect for Jamaica and for the Cuban provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo. The hurricane warning for the Dominican Republic will be lowered later Saturday night.
A hurricane watch remains in effect for eastern Cuba for the provinces of Las Tunas and Camaguey. A hurricane watch is also in effect for the Cayman Islands, and these watches will likely be upgraded to hurricane warnings later Saturday night.
TROPICAL DEPRESSION TWELVE NEARING TROPICAL STORM STRENGTH
At 8 p.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Depression Twelve was located near latitude 11.0 north, longitude 53.2 west or about 450 miles east-southeast of Barbados in the Windward Islands. The depression is moving toward the west near 15 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue during the next 24 hours.
Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. The depression is forecast to strengthen to a tropical storm Saturday night. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1005 mb, 29.69 inches. Interests in the Lesser Antilles should monitor the progress of this system. A tropical storm watch is in effect for Barbados.
For storm information for specific areas of the USA, please monitor products issued by NOAA's 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.
Click NOAA tracking map for larger view.
Relevant Web Sites
NOAA's National Hurricane Center — Get the latest advisories here
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
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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