News Item on Hurricane Franklin issued by The Bahamas Department of Meteorology Forecast Office Section at 6 PM Wednesday 09TH AUGUST 2017.

…....... FRANKLIN BECOMES THE FIRST HURRICANE OF THE 2017 ATLANTIC SEASON....

AT 5 PM EDT, THE CENTER OF FRANKLIN WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 20.1°NORTH AND LONGITUDE 94.9° WEST OR ABOUT 175 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF TUXPAN, MEXICO OR 105 MILES NORTHEAST OF VERACRUZ, MEXICO.

FRANKLIN IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST AT 12 MPH, AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT DAY OR SO. ON THE FORECAST TRACK, THE CENTER OF FRANKLIN IS EXPECTED TO CROSS THE COAST OF THE MEXICAN STATE OF VERACRUZ TONIGHT OR EARLY THURSDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 75 MILES PER HOUR (MPH) WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS EXPECTED UNTIL THE CENTER CROSSES THE COAST. RAPID WEAKENING IS EXPECTED AFTER LANDFALL IN MEXICO.

THE NEXT NEWS ITEM WILL BE ISSUED AT 6AM.

PREPARED BY FORECASTER: SHEZELLE MATHER