...Tenacious Hanna heading toward the northwest...weather beginning
to improve in the Turks and Caicos...
At 11 PM AST...0300z...the government of the Bahamas has replaced
the Hurricane Warning with a Tropical Storm Warning for the
northwestern Bahamas.

A Tropical Storm Warning is now in effect for all of the Bahamas
and for the Turks and Caicos Islands.

At 11 PM AST...0300z...the Tropical Storm Warning for Hispaniola
from Port au Prince Haiti northward and eastward to Puerto Plata in
the Dominican Republic has been discontinued.

A Hurricane Watch may be required for a portion of the southeastern
United States coast early Thursday and interests in this area
should monitor the progress of Hanna.

For storm information specific to your area...including possible
inland watches and warnings...please monitor products issued
by your local weather office.

At 1100 PM AST...0300z...the center of Tropical Storm Hanna was
located near latitude 23.2 north...longitude 72.1 west or about 160
miles...260 km...east-southeast of San Salvador and about 355 miles
...575 km...east-southeast of Nassau in the Bahamas.

Hanna is moving toward the north-northwest near 13 mph...20 km/hr.
A general northwest motion is expected to continue during the next
day or two with a gradual increase in forward speed. On this
track...the center of Hanna should be moving just east of the
central and northwestern Bahamas during the next 24 to 36 hours.

Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph...100 km/hr...with higher
gusts. Hanna could regain hurricane strength during the next 24 to
36 hours.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 290 miles...465 km
mainly to the north of the center.

Estimated minimum central pressure is 989 mb...29.21 inches.
Hanna is expected to produce rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches...
with maximum isolated amounts of 12 inches over the Bahamas.
Isolated amounts of 15 inches are possible in Puerto Rico. Totals
of 6 to 10 inches...with isolated maximum amounts of up to 15
inches...are possible over Hispaniola...where these rains could
cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides. Moderate to
locally heavy rainfall is possible along the East Coast of Florida
by Friday morning.

Coastal storm surge flooding of 1 to 3 feet above normal tide
levels can be expected in areas of onshore flow within the Hurricane
Warning area.

Swells from Hanna are expected to increase the risk of dangerous rip
currents along portions of the southeastern United States coast
during the next couple of days.
Isolated tornadoes and waterspouts are possible over Puerto Rico and
the adjacent waters overnight.

Repeating the 1100 PM AST position...23.2 N...72.1 W. Movement
toward...north-northwest near 13 mph. Maximum sustained winds...65
mph. Minimum central pressure...989 mb.

An intermediate advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane
Center at 200 am AST followed by the next complete advisory at 500
am AST.

$$
Forecaster Avila