MICHELLE MOVING AWAY FROM BAHAMAS, SLOWLY WEAKENING

November 5, 2001 — At 4 p.m. EST, the center of Hurricane Michelle was located near latitude 25.9 north, longitude 75.4 west or about 145 miles east-northeast of Nassau in the Bahamas. This position is also about 790 miles west-southwest of Bermuda. Michelle is moving toward the northeast near 21 mph, and this motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours. Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph with higher gusts. Gradual weakening is forecast during the next 24 hours, according to NOAA's National Hurricane Center. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Michelle taken Nov. 5, 2001 at 10:15 a.m. EST. Click here to see latest satellite image.)

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 230 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure is 980 mb, 28.94 inches. Storm surge flooding in portions of the Bahamas is expected to gradually subside.

The government of the Bahamas will discontinue all hurricane warnings for the central and northwestern Bahamas at 5 p.m. EST. A tropical storm warning will be in effect for the islands of Abaco and Eleuthera and Grand Bahama Island. At 4 p.m. EST, the government of Bermuda changed its hurricane watch to a tropical storm warning.

The gale warning is discontinued on the Florida east coast from Cocoa Beach southward to Jupiter Inlet. All warnings are discontinued for south Florida. Marine interests should exercise caution until winds and seas slowly subside.

For storm information for specific areas of the USA, please monitor products issued by National Weather Service local forecast offices. In addition, see NOAA's Southeast River Forecast Center for the latest river conditions.

Storm Advisories updated 4 a.m., 10 a.m., 4 p.m., and 10 p.m. EST; 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's Tropical Cyclone Links

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

NOAA's Southeast River Forecast Center

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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