This evening a Noaa P3 Orion flying into Tropical Storm Earl found winds supporting an upgrade to Hurricane Earl. With a Pressure of 988mb and 75mph winds.
Here is the update from the National Hurricane Center regarding the upgrade of Earl to a Hurricane:
000 WTNT65 KNHC 032057 TCUAT5 HURRICANE EARL TROPICAL CYCLONE UPDATE NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL052016 400 PM CDT WED AUG 03 2016 ...NOAA PLANE FINDS THAT EARL IS NOW A HURRICANE... A NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft just reached Earl and measured maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h), indicating that Earl is now a hurricane. SUMMARY OF 400 PM CDT...2100 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...17.1N 86.0W ABOUT 70 MI...110 KM NE OF ISLA ROATAN HONDURAS ABOUT 150 MI...240 KM E OF BELIZE CITY MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...75 MPH...120 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 280 DEGREES AT 14 MPH...22 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...988 MB...29.18 INCHES $$ Forecaster AvilaThe forecast track takes the Hurricane into Belize over night where it is forecast to weaken before emerging back over the Bay of Campeche where it could have a little time to restrengthen before making it's final landfall along the Mexican coast.
Hurricane Warnings have been issues for the east coasts of Belize including the following areas:
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for... * Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico, southward to the Belize/Guatemala border. * Bay Islands, Honduras. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for... * North coast of Honduras from Cabo Gracias a Dios westward to the Honduras/Guatemala border. * North of Puerto Costa Maya to Punta Allen, Mexico. For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service.
Hurricane Preparations in these areas should be rushed to completion!
I will have more through out the evening and as conditions warrant!