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Noel Weakens After Passing Hispaniola

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 29, 2007

Updated: 10/29/2007 12:11 pm

TAMPA - Tropical Storm Noel seems to have made it across Hispaniola and is struggling to reform its center offshore, the National Hurricane Center said.

Forecasters expressed some doubt whether the weak storm will be able to reform after crossing the rugged island. The storm has winds of only about 44 mph, though if it survives there is some chance it will strengthen slightly.

The storm lost some steam going over the island, dropping from winds of about 50 mph.

The hurricane center still expects the season's 14th storm to begin a turn to the north, then northeast in a day or so. That path would take Noel over the southern Bahamas then out to sea.

The 11 a.m. update from the hurricane center still keeps Florida outside the "cone of uncertainty" that covers possible errors in the expected track in the five-day forecast.

However, in the latest advisory, the southeast coast of Florida is almost at the left edge of the cone on Thursday, about the same time the forecast calls for Noel to begin its curve northeast and into the Atlantic.

Some intensity models call for Noel to reach hurricane strength by Thursday or Friday, but the hurricane center is discounting those, and forecasters expect Noel's winds to peak at about 55 mph, below hurricane strength and lower than earlier forecasts.

Forecasters say winds high in the atmosphere likely will keep Noel from gaining strength after Thursday

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