500 AM AST WED SEP 03 2008
...IKE CONTINUES WEST-NORTHWESTWARD...HAS NOT STRENGTHENED
RECENTLY...
AT 500 AM AST...0900Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM IKE WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 20.6 NORTH...LONGITUDE 49.6 WEST OR ABOUT 835 MILES...
1340 KM...EAST-NORTHEAST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS.
IKE IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 18 MPH...30 KM/HR...AND
A GRADUAL TURN TOWARD THE WEST IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT 48 HOURS.
SATELLITE IMAGES INDICATE THAT THE MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN
NEAR 65 MPH...100 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. IKE IS FORECAST TO
BECOME A HURRICANE LATER TODAY...AND CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OVER THE
NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 140 MILES...220 KM
FROM THE CENTER.
ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 996 MB...29.41 INCHES.
