NEWS ITEM ON TROPICAL STORM EARL ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY FORECAST OFFICE SECTION, AT 12:00PM THURSDAY 04TH AUGUST 2016
EARL RAPIDLY WEAKENING OVER THE HIGH TERRAIN OF NORTHERN GUATEMALA
AT 11:00AM EDT, THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM EARL WAS LOCATED WELL INLAND NEAR LATITUDE 17.2° NORTH AND LONGITUDE 89.9° WEST OR ABOUT 115 MILES WEST OF BELIZE CITY.
EARL IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST AT 12 MPH, AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. ON THE FORECAST TRACK, EARL WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS NORTHERN GUATEMALA AND SOUTHEASTERN MEXICO TONIGHT AND FRIDAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 50 MILES PER HOUR (MPH) WITH HIGHER GUSTS. ADDITIONAL WEAKENING IS EXPECTED AS THE CENTER MOVES OVER HIGH TERRAIN, AND EARL IS FORECAST TO WEAKEN TO A TROPICAL DEPRESSION BY TONIGHT.
THE NEXT NEWS ITEM WILL BE ISSUED AT 6PM
PREPARED BY FORECASTER: ORSON NIXON
08/04/2016 1600UTC
