FLORENCE FLOURISHING IN THE FACE OF
SOUTHWESTERLY SHEAR…
LOCATION: NEAR LATITUDE 22.0°NORTH AND LONGITUDE 45.7° WEST OR ABOUT 1160 MILES EAST-NORTHEAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS.
PRESENT MOVEMENT: HURRICANE FLORENCE IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 13 MILES PER HOUR.
AT 11AM DST, THE CENTER OF HURRICANE FLORENCE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 22.0°NORTH AND LONGITUDE 45.7° WEST OR ABOUT 1160 MILES EAST-NORTHEAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS.
FLORENCE IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 13 MILES PER HOUR AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT. A TURN TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST WITH A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS FORECAST ON THURSDAY, FOLLOWED BY A TURN BACK TOWARD THE NORTHWEST EARLY NEXT WEEK.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 125 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. FLORENCE IS A CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE. SOME WEAKENING IS POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS, BUT FLORENCE IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN A STRONG HURRICANE THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK.
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
Florence is several hundred miles away from the TCI. Forecasters have indicated that the system is currently projected to continue on a north west path through tonight with a turn back to the west- northwest with a decrease in forward speed forecast for Thursday, with a turn back towards the northwest early next week. Florence is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane wind scale. Some weakening is possible during next few days, but Florence is expected to remain a strong hurricane through early next week. As this information is based on current projections, Florence poses no threat to the Turks and Caicos Islands at this time, residents should continue to monitor Florence. The Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) will continue to monitor and provide information of any changes.
If it appears Florence may pose an immediate threat to the TCI, advisories will be issued in keeping with those of the Bahamas Department of Meteorology Forecast Office Section.
