- Hurricane Hunters investigating Tomas early this morning found that the storm has intensified into a hurricane.
- As of 8am EDT Friday, Hurricane Tomas was located about 160 miles west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, which is also about 600 miles from Miami, Florida.
- Maximum sustained winds have increased to 85mph, making Tomas a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Environmental conditions and a track over more water may allow Tomas to gather more strength today, but a weakening trend should occur on Saturday as Tomas interacts with a frontal boundary.
- Hurricane Tomas is now moving to the northeast at 10 mph, and this motion should continue through the next few days.
- The official forecast track has the center of Tomas passing through the Windward Passage, the channel between Cuba and Haiti, today, then moving over the Turks and Caicos Islands late tonight and out into the Atlantic Ocean over the weekend.
- Even though Tomas may not make a direct landfall on Haiti, Hispaniola will be on the stronger and wetter side of the storm.
- Rainfall will be the greatest threat, with amounts of 5-10 inches forecast for much of Haiti and the Dominican Republic and isolated amounts up to 15 inches possible.
- Hurricane warnings have been posted for the entire coast of Haiti, but the forecast wind swath keeps most of the hurricane-force winds offshore. However, sustained tropical storm-force winds are expected for much of the country, with possible gusts near hurricane-force strength. Tornadoes will also be possible some of the outer rainbands.
- Additional information can be found at www.nhc.noaa.gov
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