5PM NOAA Update

AT 500 PM EDT...2100Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM FAY WAS LOCATEDNEAR LATITUDE 24.6 NORTH...LONGITUDE 81.9 WEST OR NEAR KEY WESTFLORIDA AND ABOUT 145 MILES...235 KM...SOUTH OF FT. MYERS FLORIDA.FAY IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH...19 KM/HR.A TURN TOWARD THE NORTH WITH A SLOWER FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTEDTONIGHT...FOLLOWED BY A GENERALLY NORTHWARD MOTION TUESDAY ANDTUESDAY NIGHT. THIS MOTION SHOULD BRING THE CENTER OF FAY AWAYFROM THE FLORIDA KEYS TONIGHT...AND NEAR OR OVER THE SOUTHWESTERNCOAST OF FLORIDA ON TUESDAY.MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 60 MPH...95 KM/HR...WITH HIGHERGUSTS. STRENGTHENING IS EXPECTED TONIGHT AND TUESDAY...AND FAY ISFORECAST TO BE AT OR NEAR HURRICANE STRENGTH AS IT APPROACHES THESOUTHWESTERN COAST OF FLORIDA.