Hurricane Fabian Packing 140 Mph Winds

Hurricane Fabian churned in the Atlantic packing powerful winds Monday but meteorologists said it was too early to predict whether it would pose any threat to the United States.

In Texas, meanwhile, remnants of Tropical Storm Grace moved steadily northward after the weak storm blew into the state, promising a wet end and the possibility of flooding for the Labor Day Weekend.

Fabian was maintaining sustained winds of 140 mph, making the storm a dangerous Category 4 hurricane. The hurricane was located about 400 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands by 5 a.m. EDT – several days from any potential landfall.

Forecasters predicted it would gradually turn toward the west-northwest during the next day and pass well north of the Northern Leeward Islands.

“Nobody’s off the hook yet but it’s certainly looking a bit more optimistic for those of us in Florida,” said Jamie Rhome, a meteorologist at the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Hurricane specialists were uncertain early Monday whether it would threaten the Atlantic coast of the United States. Fabian was moving toward the west near 10 mph and its maximum sustained wind speed shot up from 75 mph Friday to 140 mph by Sunday night.

In Texas, steady rains plagued some areas of the state but few other problems developed during the day Sunday as the Grace moved inland near Port O’Connor and began a slow trek northward.

“It won’t stop raining,” said Galveston County Emergency Management spokesman John Simsen. “It is not causing any flooding now, but it will be an issue tomorrow and the next day I guarantee.” Late Sunday night, Galveston County authorities reported no problems.

The National Weather Service said the poorly defined circulation center of the tropical depression was southeast of Waco late Sunday and was drifting slowly to the north northwest.

The National Weather Service in Austin/San Antonio issued a flash flood watch for areas of South Central and the Texas Hill Country until 4 p.m. Monday because of the threat of up to 3 inches of rain on already saturated grounds. Some isolated areas could see 5 inches of rain.

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On the Net:

National Hurricane Center: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/