1. Tropical storm conditions are expected in the Cayman Islandsbeginning late today or tonight, and a Tropical Storm Warning isin effect.

2. Dangerous storm surge and hurricane conditions are expected in portions of western Cuba by Tuesday afternoon, and a Hurricane Warning is in effect.

3. Heavy rainfall will affect portions of Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and western Cuba during the next few days. This rainfall could lead to significant flash flooding and mudslides.

4. Delta is forecast to approach the northern Gulf Coast late this week as a hurricane. While there is large uncertainty in the track and intensity forecasts at these time ranges, there is an increasing risk of dangerous storm surge, wind, and rainfall hazards along the coast from Louisiana to the western Florida Panhandle. Residents in these areas should monitor the progress of Delta and check for updates to the forecast during the week.

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The government of Cuba has issued a Hurricane Warning for the Cuban province of Pinar del Rio. A Tropical Storm Warning was also been issued for the Isle of Youth.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
- Cuba province of Pinar del Rio

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
- Cuban province of Artemisa
- Isle of Youth

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
- Cayman Islands including Little Cayman and Cayman Brac
- Isle of Youth

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
- Cuba province of La Habana

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropicalstormforce winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service.

Key messages for Delta can be found in the Tropical Cyclone Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT1, WMO header WTNT41 KNHC, and on the web at www.hurricanes.gov/text/MIATCDAT1.shtml.

STORM SURGE: A dangerous storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels along the south coast of western Cuba near and to right of where the center makes landfall. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected in the Cayman Islands beginning late today or tonight. Hurricane conditions are expected within the Hurricane Warning area in western Cuba by late Tuesday afternoon, with tropical storm conditions expected by Tuesday morning. Hurricane conditions are possible on the Isle of Youth beginning Tuesday afternoon with tropical storm conditions expected by early Tuesday. Tropical storm conditions are possible in the Tropical Storm Watch area in Cuba on Tuesday.

RAINFALL: Through midweek, Delta is expected to produce 4 to 6 inches of rain with isolated maximum totals of 8 inches across Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and western Cuba. This rainfall could lead to significant flash floods and mudslides.

At 1100 AM EDT (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Delta was located near latitude 16.4 North, longitude 78.6 West. Delta is moving toward the west near 7 mph (11 km/h), and a turn toward the westnorthwest is forecast later today. A faster northwestward motion is expected on Tuesday and Wednesday. On the forecast track, the center of Delta is expected to move away from Jamaica later today, move near or over the Cayman Islands early Tuesday, and approach western Cuba Tuesday afternoon or evening. Delta is forecast to move into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico Tuesday night, and be over the southcentral Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is expected during the next few days, and Delta is expected to become a hurricane on Tuesday before it nears western Cuba. Tropicalstormforce winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1002 mb (29.59 inches).

The convective structure of Delta has continued to improve this morning. Earlier microwave data and early-light visible satellite imagery showed that the center of the tropical cyclone re-formed farther south within the area of deep convection. Since that time, banding has continued to increase around the southern and eastern portion of the circulation, and a small CDO-like feature has formed. The intensity has been set at 40 kt, which is a blend of the subjective Dvorak estimate from TAFB and objective satellite intensity estimates from UW/CIMSS. A NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate the tropical storm this afternoon, which should provide a better assessment of the cyclone's intensity, structure, and wind field.

With the earlier center re-formation, the initial motion estimate is a somewhat uncertain 280/6 kt. Delta is expected to resume a west-northwestward motion later today. A northwestward heading around the southwestern portion of a deep-layer ridge should begin tonight or Tuesday, and that general motion with some increase in forward speed is expected to continue through 60-72 hours. After that time, a broad mid- to upper-level trough is forecast to develop over the south-central United States, which should weaken the western portion of the ridge and cause Delta to turn northward toward the northern Gulf Coast. After day 4, Delta should begin to accelerate north-northeastward or northeastward ahead of the aforementioned trough. The new NHC track forecast has been adjusted to the south and west of the previous advisory during the first couple of days, primarily due to the recent center re-formation and more southward initial position. After that time, the NHC track is not much different than the previous forecast and lies near the center of the tightly clustered dynamical model envelope.

Delta is forecast to traverse very warm waters over the northwestern Caribbean Sea and be in a very low vertical wind shear environment during the next couple of days. These conditions should allow for significant strengthening during that time, and the NHC intensity forecast is at or above the various intensity aids. It is somewhat surprising that the intensity aids were generally a little lower this cycle, but the expected low shear and SHIPS rapid intensification index support the higher than climatological rate of intensification. After 72 hours, increasing southwesterly shear and the cooler shelf waters over the northern Gulf are likely to induce some weakening later in the period. The updated NHC intensity forecast calls for a faster rate of intensification over the next 48-60 hours, but is similar to the previous advisory thereafter.