...IRMA EXPECTED TO BE NEAR THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS BY LATE TUESDAY...

SUMMARY OF 800 PM AST...0000 UTC...INFORMATION

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LOCATION...17.4N 50.3W
ABOUT 760 MI...1220 KM E OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...115 MPH...185 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 260 DEGREES AT 14 MPH...22 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...959 MB...28.32 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS
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CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY: None.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St. Kitts, and Nevis
* Saba, St. Eustatius, and Sint Maarten
* Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy

Interests in the remainder of the Leeward Islands, the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico should monitor the progress of Irma.

Additional Hurricane and Tropical Storm Watches may be required for portions of this area on Monday. For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service. DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK

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At 800 PM AST (0000 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Irma was located by a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft near latitude 17.4 North, longitude 50.3 West.

Irma is moving toward the west near 14 mph (22 km/h). A westward to west-southwestward motion with some reduction in forward speed is expected through Monday night. On the forecast track, the center of Irma is expected to approach the northern Leeward Islands late Tuesday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 115 mph (185 km/h) with higher gusts.

Irma is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km).

The minimum central pressure estimated from NOAA Hurricane Hunter observations is 959 mb (28.32 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
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WIND: Hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area by Tuesday night, with tropical storm conditions possible by late Tuesday.