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CNN Live Saturday

South Florida Braces for Hurricane Michelle

Aired November 03, 2001 - 16:25   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: South Florida is bracing for Hurricane is. The storm was upgraded to category four hurricane today, packing winds of 135 miles per hour. And non-residents were ordered to get out of the Florida Keys as this hurricane is churning almost 200 miles southwest of Cuba. Here now with the latest on the storm's location is Jacqui Jeras, she is at the CNN's weather center. Hey, Jacqui.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hey, Leon. You really could see those winds whipping, already feeling the effects in the Florida Keys and in South Florida. Current wind speeds and wind gusts in the area really about 20 to 30 miles per hour. But a tropical storm warning is in effect for the Florida Keys throughout the next 24 hours, and that means we could see wind gusts more like 39 miles per hour plus.

So the next 24 to 48 hours are really going to be critical here. Here's the present satellite loop of Hurricane Michelle, and look at that eye! Boy, it just sticks out like a sore thumb. Very well- defined here, a very powerful hurricane, and it's been wobbling quite a bit in the last 24 hours. But now, it's taking more of a northerly track, and we'll likely see it start to turn a little bit more to the north and to the east. We'll be watching it move over Cuba.

Here is the latest statistics: At the top of the hour, new information in now, 255 miles south-southwest of Havana, Cuba. The winds have not changed, still at 135 miles per hour. We'll likely be bumping that up a little bit as we head through the rest of the evening. We'll have more for you, Leon -- or Catherine, back to you -- in about an hour.

CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Well, thanks, Jacqui.

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