WOCN31 CWHX 121500
HURRICANE FLORENCE INTERMEDIATE INFORMATION STATEMENT ISSUED BY
THE CANADIAN HURRICANE CENTRE OF ENVIRONMENT CANADA AT
12.00 NOON ADT TUESDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2006.

THE NEXT STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY 3.00 PM ADT

 AT NOON ADT... HURRICANE FLORENCE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE
38.0 N AND LONGITUDE 61.1 W... ABOUT 360 NAUTICAL MILES OR 665 KM 
SOUTH SOUTHWEST OF SABLE ISLAND. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE
ESTIMATED AT 65 KNOTS... OR 119 KM/H. FLORENCE IS MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 15 KNOTS... 28 KM/H.

 AS EXPECTED GALE FORCE WINDS HAVE DEVELOPED WELL AHEAD OF FLORENCE 
AS IT TRACKS NORTHEASTWARD AND GALES ARE BEING REPORTED FROM MOST
SOUTHERN MARITIME WATERS. GALES NOW EXTEND 350-375 NAUTICAL MILES...
650-700 KM NORTHWEST THROUGH NORTHEAST OF THE STORM CENTRE. THE FAR 
REACHING EXTENT OF THESE GALES IS IN LINE WITH A HURRICANE THAT IS
IN THE LATTER STAGES OF UNDERGOING TRANSITION TO AN EXTRATROPICAL 
CYCLONE.

 THE TRACK OF FLORENCE APPEARS TO BE SLIGHTLY SOUTH OF OUR PREVIOUS 
FORECAST WHICH COULD HAVE THE IMPACT OF THE STORM REMAINING FARTHER 
OFFSHORE AS IT NEARS NEWFOUNDLAND. HOWEVER WE ARE RELUCTANT TO MAKE 
ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE TRACK AT THIS TIME AS IT IS STILL
VERY LIKELY THAT THE TRANSITION PROCESS WILL RESULT IN THE TRACK
OF THE STORM TAKING ON AN'S-SHAPE OVER THE NEXT 24-36 HOURS BRINGING 
IT CLOSE TO THE AVALON.

A COMPLETE REASSESSMENT OF THE FORECAST TRACK WILL BE COMPLETED BY 
THE TIME OF THE 3 P.M. UPDATE.

END BOWYER