...Landfall of extremely dangerous Hurricane Iris only hours away...

Preparations to protect life and property in the Hurricane Warning area should have been completed.




At 8 PM EDT...a Hurricane Warning remains in effect for the Caribbean coasts of Belize...Guatemala...and Honduras from the border with Guatemala eastward to Limon.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the east coast of the Yucatan from felipe carrillo Puerto southward to the border with Belize.

At 8 PM EDT...0000z...the center of Hurricane Iris was located near latitude 16.5 north...longitude 88.0 west or about 75 miles...120 km...southeast of Belize City Belize.

Iris is moving just south of due west near 22 mph...35 km/hr. On the projected track...the center is expected to make landfall on the coast of Belize in the next several hours.

Maximum sustained winds are near 145 mph...235 km/hr...with higher gusts. Some fluctuations in intensity are possible prior to landfall...but Iris is likely to make landfall as a category four hurricane. Higher winds may occur over elevated terrain as Iris moves inland.

Iris remains a very small hurricane. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 15 miles...30 km...from the center...and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 145 miles...230 km.

Estimated minimum central pressure is 954 mb...28.17 inches.

Storm surge flooding of 13-18 feet above normal tide levels... along with dangerous large battering waves...are likely near and to the north of where the center of the hurricane crosses the coast.

Rainfall totals of 5 to 8 inches...locally higher...are likely along the path of Iris. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides over mountainous terrain.

Repeating the 8 PM EDT position...16.5 N... 88.0 W. Movement toward...west near 22 mph. Maximum sustained winds...145 mph. Minimum central pressure... 954 mb.


[This message has been edited by Marty (edited 10-08-2001).]