ZCZC MIATCPEP2 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM BULLETIN HURRICANE SANDRA ADVISORY NUMBER 14 NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP222015 800 PM MST THU NOV 26 2015 ...SANDRA MAINTAINS IT STRENGTH AS A MAJOR HURRICANE... SUMMARY OF 800 PM MST...0300 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...18.0N 109.7W ABOUT 340 MI...545 KM S OF THE SOUTHERN TIP OF BAJA CALIFORNIA ABOUT 490 MI...790 KM SSW OF CULIACAN MEXICO MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...120 MPH...195 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...N OR 10 DEGREES AT 13 MPH...20 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...956 MB...28.23 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY: None. SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT: A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for... * Baja California peninsula from Todos Santos to Los Barriles A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, in this case within 36 hours. Interests along the northern coast of the Mexican state of Sinaloa should monitor the progress of Sandra. For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service. DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK ------------------------------ At 800 PM MST (0300 UTC), the center of Hurricane Sandra was located near latitude 18.0 North, longitude 109.7 West. Sandra is moving toward the north near 13 mph (20 km/h), and this general motion is forecast to continue tonight and Friday. A turn toward the north-northeast is expected Friday night. On the forecast track, the center of Sandra could pass near the southern end of the Baja California peninsula Friday night or early Saturday, and approach the coast of the Mexican state of Sinaloa on Saturday. Maximum sustained winds are near 120 mph (195 km/h) with higher gusts. Sandra is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Rapid weakening is expected during the next 48 hours, and Sandra is forecast to weaken to a tropical storm Friday night and become a remnant low on Saturday before reaching the coast of mainland Mexico. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles (260 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 956 mb (28.23 inches). HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- WIND: Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area Saturday night and Sunday morning. RAINFALL: Sandra is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 4 to 6 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches over the Mexican states of Baja California Sur...Sinaloa...Sonora... Chihuahua...and far western Durango through Saturday night. This rainfall may produce life threatening flash floods and mudslides. NEXT ADVISORY ------------- Next intermediate advisory at 1100 PM MST. Next complete advisory at 200 AM MST. $$ Forecaster Beven/Stewart NNNN