ZCZC MIATCPAT2 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM BULLETIN HURRICANE GASTON ADVISORY NUMBER 42 NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL072016 1100 PM AST THU SEP 01 2016 ...GASTON CONTINUES TO WEAKEN... ...TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS EXPECTED IN THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL AZORES FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT... SUMMARY OF 1100 PM AST...0300 UTC...INFORMATION ----------------------------------------------- LOCATION...38.3N 36.0W ABOUT 395 MI...635 KM W OF FAIAL ISLAND IN THE CENTRAL AZORES ABOUT 480 MI...775 KM W OF LAJES AIR BASE IN THE AZORES MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...75 MPH...120 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...ENE OR 75 DEGREES AT 23 MPH...37 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...989 MB...29.21 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY: None. SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT: A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for... * Flores and Corvo in the western Azores * Faial, Pico, Graciosa, Sao Jorge, and Terceira in the central Azores A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case within the next 12 to 24 hours. For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service. DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK ------------------------------ At 1100 PM AST (0300 UTC), the center of Hurricane Gaston was located near latitude 38.3 North, longitude 36.0 West. Gaston is moving toward the east-northeast near 23 mph (37 km/h). An eastward or east-northeastward motion at a slower forward speed is expected during the next day or so. On the forecast track, the center of Gaston will move near the western Azores on Friday, and pass north of the central Azores Friday night. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher gusts. Additional weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Gaston is expected to become a tropical storm overnight. The cyclone should become post-tropical on Saturday. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km) from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 989 mb (29.21 inches). HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected in the western Azores on Friday and in the central Azores Friday night. RAINFALL: Gaston is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 1 to 3 inches, primarily over the western Azores, through the weekend. SURF: Swells generated by Gaston are beginning to affect the Azores and will continue into Saturday. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. For more information, please consult products from your local weather office. NEXT ADVISORY ------------- Next intermediate advisory at 200 AM AST. Next complete advisory at 500 AM AST. $$ Forecaster Berg NNNN