Extremely dangerous category 4 Dean continues to intensify while passing south of Puerto Rico.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the South Coast of the Dominican Republic from Barahona westward to the Haiti-Dominican Republic border. A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Jamaica. A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 36 hours.
A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for the British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. These warnings will likely be discontinued later this morning. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect along the South Coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano westward to Barahona. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours.
A tropical storm watch is in effect for portions of Cuba from the province of Camaguey eastward to the province of Guantanamo. A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 36 hours.
Interests elsewhere in the central and western Caribbean, including western Cuba, the Cayman Islands and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, should closely monitor the progress of Dean.
For storm information specific to your area, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local weather office.
At 2 a.m. EDT (0600z), the center of Hurricane Dean was located near latitude 15.0 north, longitude 66.7 west or about 700 miles (1125 km) east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica and about 240 miles (390 km) south of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Dean is moving toward the west near 18 mph (30 km/hr) and this general motion is expected to continue during the next 24 hours. On this track, the core of the hurricane will be moving well south of Puerto Rico tonight and south of the Dominican Republic later today.
Reports from an Air Force hurricane hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 150 mph (240 km/hr) with higher gusts. Dean is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. Some additional strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 205 miles (335 km).
The minimum central pressure just reported by the aircraft was 930 mb/27.46 inches.
Storm total rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches can be expected from Dean over Puerto Rico. The Dominican Republic and Haiti could receive up to 5 inches. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides
The next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 5 a.m. EDT.