NOAA News Online (Story 2294)

CHARLEY MOVING RAPIDLY TOWARD THE NORTHEASTERN COAST OF FLORIDA;
NEW WARNINGS ISSUED

(DISCLAIMER: See the NOAA National Hurricane Center for the latest information on this storm. Complete advisories are posted at 11 a.m., 5 p.m., 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. All times are Eastern. Advisories are posted more frequently as the storm nears the USA mainland.)
Latest NOAA Satellite Image of Charley (Visible)	Latest NOAA Infrared Satellite Image of Charley	Latest NOAA Wilmington, N.C., Radar Image	NOAA Satellite/Radar Time Conversion

NOAA satellite image of Hurricane Charley taken at 10:45 p.m. EDT on Aug. 13, 2004, as it begins to leave the state of Florida for the Atlantic Ocean.

Aug. 13, 2004 — At 11 p.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Charley was located near latitude 29.1 north, longitude 81.1 west or about 10 miles southwest of Daytona Beach, Fla. Charley is moving toward the north-northeast near 25 mph, and this motion is expected to continue with an increase in forward speed during the next 24 hours. On the forecast track, the center of Charley will move into the Atlantic near Daytona Beach during the next hour or two then move near or over the South Carolina coast Saturday morning, according to the NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Charley taken at 10:45 p.m. EDT on Aug. 13, 2004, as it begins to leave the state of Florida for the Atlantic Ocean. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Maximum sustained winds are near 85 mph with higher gusts. Slow strengthening is forecast once the center of Charley moves back over water.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 85 miles. During the past few hours, McCoy Airport in Orlando reported sustained winds of 77 mph with a gust of 105 mph. Sanford, Fla., recently reported a wind gust of 92 mph. (Click NOAA Hurricane Charley tracking map for larger view.)

Estimated minimum central pressure is 975 mb, 28.79 inches.

Storm surge flooding in the Florida Keys and the west coast of Florida should subside Friday night. Storm surge flooding of 8 to 10 feet is expected along portions of the South and North Carolina coasts near and to the east of where the center of Charley crosses the coast. Storm surge flooding of 4 to 7 feet is expected in the remainder of the hurricane warning area.

NOAA Melbourne, Fla., Doppler weather radar image of Hurricane Charley taken at 11:12 p.m. EDT on Aug 13, 2004, as it was about to enter the Atlantic Ocean after leaving widespread destruction in its path in the state of Florida.

Rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches are likely along the path of Charley across portions of the eastern United States. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods. (Click NOAA Melbourne, Fla., Doppler weather radar image for larger view of Hurricane Charley taken at 11:12 p.m. EDT on Aug 13, 2004, as it was about to enter the Atlantic Ocean after leaving widespread destruction in its path in the state of Florida. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Isolated tornadoes are possible across portions of the Florida peninsula for another few hours. Isolated tornadoes are also possible later Friday night and Saturday over portions of coastal South and North Carolina.

At 11 p.m. EDT, the hurricane warning is extended northward along the North Carolina coast to Oregon Inlet, including the Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds. A hurricane warning is now in effect from Cocoa Beach, Fla., to Oregon Inlet, N.C., on the southeast U.S. coast. A tropical storm warning is in effect on the North Carolina and Virginia coasts north of Oregon Inlet to Chincoteague, including the lower Chesapeake Bay south of Smith Point.

At 11 p.m. EDT, the tropical storm warning for Lake Okeechobee is discontinued. A tropical storm warning remains in effect from Jupiter Inlet to Cocoa Beach, Fla.

For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by NOAA National Weather Service local forecast offices and statements from local emergency management officials.

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