A hurricane watch has been posted for the Florida Keys
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/WTUS82-KEYW.shtml
TROPICAL DEPRESSION EIGHTEEN LOCAL STATEMENT...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KEY WEST FL
1130 AM EDT SUN SEP 18 2005
...UPDATED PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
...HURRICANE WATCH ISSUED FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS...
...AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS STATEMENT IS SPECIFIC TO THE FLORIDA KEYS OF MONROE COUNTY
INCLUDING THE DRY TORTUGAS.
...WATCHES AND WARNINGS...
A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL THE FLORIDA KEYS FROM OCEAN
REEF TO DRY TORTUGAS. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT WINDS OF 74 MPH
OR GREATER ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN 36 HOURS.
...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 1100 AM EDT THE CENTER OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION EIGHTEEN WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 22.0 NORTH...LONGITUDE 72.2 WEST. THIS WAS
ABOUT 560 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF OCEAN REEF ON KEY LARGO...AND 630
MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF KEY WEST. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS WERE NEAR
35 MPH. THE DEPRESSION WAS EXPECTED TO BECOME A TROPICAL STORM THIS
EVENING. THE DEPRESSION WAS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 12 MPH. A
GENERAL MOTION TOWARD THE WEST NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT
24 HOURS. THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE WAS 1008 MB...OR 29.77 INCHES
OF MERCURY.
...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
MONROE COUNTY HAS ENTERED A LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY. THE EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT CENTER WILL BE ACTIVATED FULLY AT 700 AM MONDAY.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HAS ORDERED A MANDATORY EVACUATION FOR VISITORS
AND NON-RESIDENTS FROM THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE TO KEY WEST STARTING AT
NOON TODAY.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE KEYS MUST LEAVE TODAY.
COUNTY PARKS AND STATE PARKS WILL CLOSE TODAY.
TOLLS ON CARD SOUND ROAD ARE SUSPENDED.
RESIDENTS IN MOBILE HOMES AND IN LOW-LYING AREAS SHOULD PREPARE NOW
FOR POSSIBLE EVACUATION.
RESIDENTS SHOULD INSTALL HURRICANE SHUTTERS IMMEDIATELY. SECURE
LOOSE OBJECTS WHICH MAY BE BLOWN ABOUT.
MONROE COUNTY SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED MONDAY AND TUESDAY. COUNTY
OFFICES WILL CLOSE AT NOON MONDAY. MUNICIPAL OFFICES MAY FOLLOW
SUIT.
...WIND IMPACTS...
WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE SLOWLY ON MONDAY. TROPICAL STORM
FORCE WINDS OF 39 TO 73 MPH MAY BEGIN MONDAY NIGHT. HURRICANE FORCE
WINDS OF 74 MPH OR GREATER WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THE FLORIDA KEYS AS
EARLY AS TUESDAY MORNING.
...MARINE IMPACTS...
SMALL CRAFT SHOULD PLAN TO STAY IN PORT BEGINNING TONIGHT. NORTHEAST
WINDS WILL INCREASE AND SMALL CRAFT WILL EXPERIENCE HAZARDOUS
CONDITIONS IN OUR ATLANTIC WATERS TONIGHT AND IN FLORIDA BAY AND
GULF WATERS MONDAY MORNING. SEAS MAY BUILD IN THE FLORIDA STRAITS
BEYOND THE REEF UP TO 15 FEET ON TUESDAY.
IF YOU PLAN TO EVACUATE YOUR BOAT AND REQUIRE THE BRIDGE TO OPEN ON
JEWFISH CREEK OR SNAKE CREEK IN ORDER TO DO SO...YOU SHOULD BEGIN
YOUR TRIP AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE. THESE TWO BRIDGES WILL OPEN ON THE
HOUR AND HALF-HOUR SUNDAY. THEY MAY CLOSE ON MONDAY TO BOATS
TRAVELING ON THE WATER.
IF YOU PLAN FOR YOUR VESSEL TO REMAIN IN THE KEYS...YOU MAY WISH TO
USE THIS TIME TO ADD EXTRA LINES AND DEPLOY EXTRA GROUND TACKLE.
...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE IMPACTS...
WE WILL RUN OUR SURGE MODEL SHORTLY. STORMS OF SIMILAR STRENGTH ON A
SIMILAR TRACK HAVE PRODUCED 4 TO 6 FEET OF SURGE IN THE PAST.
...RAINFALL IMPACTS...
WE EXPECT LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WITH THE PASSAGE OF TROPICAL
DEPRESSION EIGHTEEN. AS THE SYSTEM APPROACHES WE WILL BE ABLE TO
REFINE OUR ESTIMATES.
