Atlantic SPECIAL TROPICAL DISTURBANCE STATEMENT

SPECIAL TROPICAL DISTURBANCE STATEMENT NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 415 PM EDT SUN SEP 21 2008 SATELLITE IMAGERY...SURFACE OBSERVATIONS...RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT DATA...AND NOAA DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR DATA FROM SAN JUAN PUERTO RICO INDICATE THE BROAD LOW PRESSURE AREA PREVIOUSLY OVER THE NORTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN SEA IS NOW CENTERED OVER CENTRAL AND WESTERN PUERTO RICO. THE AIRCRAFT REPORTED 30 TO 35 MPH SURFACE WINDS IN SQUALLS TO THE SOUTH AND EAST OF THE CENTER. HOWEVER...THE DATA SHOW THE SYSTEM DOES NOT YET HAVE A WELL-DEFINED SURFACE CIRCULATION. THE LOW IS EXPECTED TO MOVE GENERALLY NORTHWARD DURING THE NEXT DAY OR TWO...AND COULD BECOME A TROPICAL DEPRESSION AT ANY TIME. REGARDLESS OF DEVELOPMENT...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CONTINUE OVER PUERTO RICO AND THE U. S. AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS THROUGH MONDAY. THESE RAINS COULD CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUDSLIDES. INTERESTS IN PUERTO RICO...THE U.S. AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS...AND EASTERN HISPANIOLA SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM AND ANY PRODUCTS ISSUED BY THEIR RESPECTIVE WEATHER FORECAST OFFICES. $$ FORECASTER BEVEN/RHOME