TS ALMA - UPDATE 1800 Z, 03-JAN-08

TS WATCH NOW RAISED TO WARNING FOR CALIFORNIA COASTAL COUNTIES INCLUDING LOS ANGELES, VENTURA, SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS OBISPO, MONTEREY, SANTA CRUZ, SAN MATEO, SAN FRANCISCO, MARIN, SONOMA, MENDOCINO AND HUMBOLDT. ALL OTHER CALIFORNIA COUNTIES UNDER A TS WATCH. A CLOSED CIRCULATION HAS FULLY DEVELOPED. WIND INTENSITY HAS RISEN MORE DRAMATICALLY THAN PROG'ED. CURRENT INDICATIONS FROM HURRICANE HUNTER AND QUICK SCAT ARE THAT SUSTAINED HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WILL BE ACHIEVED LATER TODAY. CENTRAL PRESSURE 974 MB. CURRENT LOCATION IS APPROX 46N, 150W, WITH STEERING WINDS TRACKING TOWARD CALIFORNIA COAST. EXPECTED LANDFALL WILL BE BETWEEN 35N AND 39N, ETA EARLY HOURS Z 04-JAN-08. AFTERNOON SHIFT MAY BUMP UP TO HURRICANE WATCH. EOT. EL-RABET.