308 
 WTNT41 KNHC 132132
 TCDAT1
 HURRICANE OPHELIA SPECIAL DISCUSSION NUMBER  31
 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
 530 PM EDT TUE SEP 13 2005
  
 THIS SPECIAL ADVISORY IS MAINLY TO UPGRADE OPHELIA TO A HURRICANE
 BASED ON RECENT REPORTS FROM BOTH NOAA AND AIR FORCE RESERVE UNIT 
 RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT DATA.  THE NOAA AIRCRAFT FOUND STEPPED-
 FREQUENCY MICROWAVE RADIOMETER WINDS OF 63-66 KT NORTH-NORTHWEST OF
 THE CENTER...BENEATH 4000 FT FLIGHT-LEVEL WINDS OF 83 KT. THE AIR
 FORCE RECON FLIGHT-LEVEL WINDS OF 76 KT AT 700 MB IN THE SOUTHWEST
 QUADRANT ALSO SUPPORTS HURRICANE INTENSITY.
  
 GIVEN THAT OPHELIA IS ALREADY A 65-KT HURRICANE...IT IS QUITE
 POSSIBLE THAT THE HURRICANE COULD REACH 70 KT BEFORE LANDFALL
 OCCURS. 
  
 FORECASTER STEWART
  
 FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS
  
 INITIAL      13/2130Z 32.6N  78.1W    65 KT
  12HR VT     14/0600Z 33.3N  77.8W    65 KT
  24HR VT     14/1800Z 34.3N  77.2W    65 KT
  36HR VT     15/0600Z 35.2N  76.1W    65 KT...INLAND/PAMLICO SOUND
  48HR VT     15/1800Z 35.7N  74.7W    65 KT...OVER WATER
  72HR VT     16/1800Z 37.8N  70.7W    60 KT
  96HR VT     17/1800Z 42.5N  62.5W    55 KT...EXTRATROPICAL
 120HR VT     18/1800Z 48.5N  49.5W    45 KT...EXTRATROPICAL
  
  
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