Hurricane Ivan may Follow Hurricane Frances and be Even More Dangerous

Miami, FL (HDW) September 6, 2004 - A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR BARBADOS...ST. LUCIA...ST. VINCENT... THE GRENADINES...AND GRENADA AND ITS DEPENDENCIES.
A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MARTINIQUE.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO.

INTERESTS ELSEWHERE IN THE LESSER ANTILLES SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF IVAN.

AT 2 PM AST...1800Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IVAN WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 11.4 NORTH...LONGITUDE 54.4 WEST OR ABOUT 360 MILES...580 KM...EAST-SOUTHEAST OF BARBADOS.

IVAN IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 22 MPH ...35 KM/HR...AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS. ON THIS TRACK THE CENTER OF THE HURRICANE WILL BE APPROACHING THE ISLANDS IN THE WARNING AREA TOMORROW MORNING. HOWEVER WEATHER CONDITIONS IN THE WINDWARD ISLANDS WILL BEGIN TO DETERIORATE THIS EVENING.
PRELIMINARY REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE HURRICANE HUNTER PLANE INDICATE THAT THE MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 115 MPH...185 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. HOWEVER IVAN MAY RE-STRENGTHEN BEFORE IT REACHES THE WINDWARD ISLANDS.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 35 MILES... 55 KM...FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 140 MILES...220 KM.

THE HURRICANE HUNTERS REPORTED A MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE OF 969 MB...28.61 INCHES.

REPEATING THE 2 PM AST POSITION...11.4 N... 54.4 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 22 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...115 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 969 MB.