News Item on Tropical Storm Franklin issued by The Bahamas Department of Meteorology Forecast Office Section, at6 AM Thursday 10TH AUGUST 2017.

... FRANKLIN WEAKENS TO A TROPICAL STORM AS IT MOVES FARTHER INLAND OVER EASTERN MEXICO...

AT 6 AM EDT, THE CENTER OF FRANKLIN WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 19.6°NORTH AND LONGITUDE 97.6° WEST OR ABOUT 75 MILES SOUTH OF TUXPAN, MEXICO OR 105 MILES WEST-NORTHWEST OF VERACRUZ, MEXICO.

FRANKLIN IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST AT 15 MPH, AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TODAY. ON THE FORECAST TRACK, THE CENTER OF FRANKLIN SHOULD CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS EASTERN MEXICO TODAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 70 MILES PER HOUR (MPH) WITH HIGHER GUSTS. ADDITIONAL RAPID WEAKENING IS EXPECTED AS FRANKLIN MOVES ACROSS EASTERN MEXICO, AND THE CYCLONE IS LIKELY TO DISSIPATE LATE THURSDAY OR EARLY FRIDAY.

THE NEXT NEWS ITEM WILL BE ISSUED AT NOON TODAY.

PREPARED BY FORECASTER: GEOFFREY GREENE