The center of former Tropical Storm Hanna moved steadily toward the west-northwest during the past 18 hours and it recently moved off the coast of Honduras and out over the Gulf of Honduras near Roatan Island.  At 3:00 p.m. EDT the center of Tropical Depression Hanna was located at latitude 16.5°N and longitude 87.0°W which put it just west of Roatan Island, about 140 miles east-southeast of Belize City, Belize and about 710 miles south-southwest of Key West, Florida.  Hanna was moving toward the west-northwest at 7 m.p.h.  The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. and the minimum surface pressure was 1009 mb.

Hanna has a tight, well developed core and thunderstorms are beginning to grow near the center of circulation.  The upper level winds over Hanna are light and the Sea Surface Temperatures in the Gulf of Honduras are quite warm.  The environment is favorable for intensification, although proximity to land could inhibit strengthening.  Hanna probably only has another 12-24 hours to intensify before it makes landfall in Belize, but some intensification is definitely possible.

Clockwise flow around a mid-level ridge of high pressure passing north of Hanna is steering it toward the west-northwest and this general motion is expected to continue.  On it’s current track, Hanna will make landfall on the coast of Belize on Wednesday.