NEWS ITEM ON HURRICANE CRISTOBAL ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY FORECAST OFFICE SECTION, AT NOON THURSDAY, 28TH AUGUST 2014.

… CRISTOBAL HEADING FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC …

...LARGE SWELLS AFFECTING THE MID-ATLANTIC AND NORTHEAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES...

AT 11:00 EDT, THE CENTER OF HURRICANE CRISTOBAL WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 36.9°NORTH AND LONGITUDE 65.9° WEST OR ABOUT 545 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF HALIFAX NOVA SOTIA.

HURRICANE CRISTOBAL IS CRISTOBAL IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST NEAR 26 MPH...AND THIS GENERAL MOTION WITH AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT 48 HOURS. ON THE FORECAST TRACK...THE CENTER OF CRISTOBAL WILL RAPIDLY MOVE TOWARD THE NORTH ATLANTIC AND PASS WELL SOUTH OF NOVA SCOTIA TONIGHT.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 75 MILES PER HOUR (MPH) WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST TODAY....AND CRISTOBAL IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A POWERFUL EXTRATROPICAL CYCLONE OVER THE NORTH ATLANTIC ON FRIDAY.

THE NEXT NEWS ITEM WILL BE ISSUED AT 6PM

PREPARED BY FORECASTER: ORSON NIXON