This is the latest Hurricane Ike advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
The next advisory will be at 5 a.m.
At 2 a.m. EDT, tropical storm warnings have been issued for the northern coast of Hispaniola.
At 2 a.m., the government of the Dominican Republic has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for the northern coast of the Dominican Republic from Cabo Frances Viejo westward to the northern border with Haiti.
At 2 a.m., a Tropical Storm Warning is also issued for the Northern Peninsula of Haiti from the northern border with the Dominican Republic to Gonaives.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours.
A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas. 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 remains in effect for the central Bahamas. A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 36 hours.
A Hurricane Watch may be required for portions of eastern Cuba later today.
All interests in the remainder of the Bahamas, Cuba, South Florida, and the Florida Keys should closely monitor the progress of this dangerous hurricane.
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., the center of Hurricane Ike was located near latitude 22.5 north, longitude 66.1 west or about 330 miles east-northeast of Grand Turk Island.
Ike is moving toward the west-southwest near 16 mph. A continued west-southwestward motion is forecast during the next day or so, followed by a more westward motion beginning by tonight or Sunday. On this track, Ike is expected to pass near or over the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas later today or early Sunday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 115 mph, with higher gusts. Ike is a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. Some fluctuations in strength are possible during the next 48 hours, but Ike is expected to be a major hurricane during this period.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 120 miles.
Air Force reconnaissance aircraft data indicate that the minimum central pressure is 962 mb or 28.41 inches.
Storm surge flooding of 9 to 12 feet above normal tide levels, along with large and dangerous battering waves, can be expected in the warning area near and to the north of the center of Ike.
Rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches is expected over the Turks and Caicos Islands and southeastern Bahamas.
The next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 5 a.m. EDT.
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