coastal flood watch has been issued for the central gulfcoast

Emily will generate waves of a very long period
between crests... which will travel northward across the Gulf and
result in heavy surf and possible coastal flooding along area
beaches late Monday and Monday night. The large waves could also
result in erosion of beaches... including those areas previously
damaged by Hurricane Dennis last weekend... and tropical storms
Arlene and Cindy earlier this Summer.

The west end of Dauphin Island Alabama will be particularly
vulnerable to coastal flooding... as similar events have produced
heavy surf and washover there several times over the past couple
of years. Hurricane Mitch... while over the western Caribbean
in October of 1998 as a very strong hurricane... produced long period
swell which propagated northward across the Gulf... inundating parts
of the western end of Dauphin Island. Along the Florida Panhandle
coastline... heavy surf should be expected... but there is no
precedent for extensive coastal flooding with this type of event.
However... with the beaches severely eroded as a result of all the
recent tropical activity... some minor coastal flooding could be
possible late Monday and Monday night.

2 PM EDT position...19.0 N... 84.4 W. Movement
toward...west-northwest near 20 mph. Maximum sustained
winds...145 mph. Minimum central pressure... 948 mb.

The next advisory will be issued by the National
Hurricane Center at 5 PM EDT