SOON TO BE TROPICAL STORM GORDON
ISSUED: 4:30 P.M. - SUNDAY - 9/17/00



GORDON WILL BE MOVING ONSHORE BETWEEN CEDAR KEY AND YANKEETOWN FLORIDA BETWEEN 6 AND 7PM.

THERE WILL BE CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN 5PM ADVISORY SO PLEASE CONSULT LATEST TPC STATEMENTS.

I THINK THE EXTENT OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS ON THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA NORTH INTO NORTH CAROLINA IS SOMEWHAT OF AN OVERKILL BUT THATS JUST MY OPINION. STRONGEST WINDS THERE WILL BE IN SOME SQUALLS AND SUSTAINED WINDS OVER 40 MPH ARE NOT EXPECTED.

CONDITIONS WILL BE IMPROVING FROM SOUTH TO NORTH OVER FLORIDA THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. GORDON IS COMING ASHORE OR WILL BE SHORTLY AS MENTIONED ABOVE...AND THE WORST WEATHER IS NEAR AND NORTHEAST OF THE CENTER WITH HEAVY RAINS AND GUSTY TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS.

A STORM SURGE OF 5-7' IS LIKELY FROM CRYSTAL BAY NORTH TO CEDAR KEY.

ISOLATED TORNADIC ACTIVITY IS STILL POSSIBLE ALONG AND TO THE EAST OF THE PATH OF GORDON...BUT THEY SHOULD BE OF THE WEAK AND SHORT LIVED VARIETY.

HEAVY RAINS 5-7" WILL SPREAD N.E. ALONG THE PATH OF GORDON INTO S.E. GA/EASTERN SC AND EVENTUALLY UP INTO EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA...BEFORE GORDON HEADS INTO THE ATLANTIC.

REFERENCE TRACK FCST MAP ON WEBSITE...ONLY MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO LAST MAP...HAVE SPED GORDON UP AND MOVED IT MORE TO THE RIGHT AS HE GOES EXTRATROPICAL AFTER PASSING NEAR HATTERAS.

IN SUMMARY...IT WILL BE A WINDY/RAINY NIGHT OVER N.E. FLORIDA AND S.E. GA...THEN SPREADING UP INTO EASTERN SC MONDAY AND INTO EASTERN NC MONDAY NIGHT...THE REMAINS OF GORDON SHOULD BE CLEAR OF THE EAST COAST BETWEEN DAYBREAK AND NOON TUESDAY.

GORDON WILL GRADUALLY SPIN DOWN BUT WINDS OF 40-50 MPH WITH SOME LOCALLY HIGHER GUSTS ARE LIKELY OVER N.E. FLORIDA AND S.E. GA OVERNIGHT TONIGHT...AND THEN MAINLY 30-40 MPH WITH SOME HIGHER GUSTS UP INTO EASTERN SC AND EASTERN NC.

NO FURTHER POSTS ARE PLANNED.

THIS INFORMATION IN NO WAY SHOULD BE USED IN PLACE OF OFFICIAL INFORMATION FROM LOCAL EMS/NWS...IT IS INTENDED TO INFORM READERS OF MY OPINIONS ONLY. IF ORDERED TO EVACUATE...PLEASE DO SO! PLEASE MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY LOCAL EMS/NWS OFFICIALS.  NO RESPONSIBILITY WRITTEN OR IMPLIED ON USE OF THIS PRODUCT.