AF Recon flight found 35 knot sustained surface winds Claudette. The central pressure was 1008 mb.
The plane did find a flight level wind of 54 knots (63 mph) on the outbound leg. Subtract 10% to get potential surface winds and you have the potential for 57 mph winds at ground level.
Claudette still have 5-6 hours in which to intensify and could be a strong tropical storm at landfall. Heavy rain, gusty winds and potential small spin up tornadoes will affect Northwest Florida and southern Alabama this afternoon and into tonight as Claudette moves inland.
000
URNT12 KNHC 161655
VORTEX DATA MESSAGE AL042009
A. 16/16:43:20Z
B. 29 deg 04 min N
084 deg 56 min W
C. 925 mb 754 m
D. 35 kt
E. 285 deg 11 nm
F. 072 deg 28 kt
G. 302 deg 25 nm
H. EXTRAP 1008 mb
I. 20 C / 767 m
J. 23 C / 766 m
K. 9 C / NA
L. NA
M. NA
N. 1345 / 9
O. 0.02 / 1.5 nm
P. AF304 0104A CYCLONE OB 02
MAX FL WIND 28 KT NW QUAD 16:34:30Z
MAX OUTBOUND FL WIND 54 KT NE QUAD 16:44:40Z
SLP EXTRAP FROM 925 MB
