Position: 23.9N 45.0W [10PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: West [280°] near 12 mph [19 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 45 mph [ 70 kph].
Wind Gusts: 55 mph [ 90 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 80 miles [130 km].
Minimum central pressure: 1007 mb ↓.

Currently about 1230 miles [1980 km] East-Northeast of the Lesser Antilles.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

Isaac is has become an Emergency Manager’s nightmare. You do everything to prepare and then nothing happens.

The 10AM CDT pressure would be normal for a Category 2 hurricane, but Isaac can’t boost its core wind speed to 65 knots [75mph/120kph] and hold it long enough to be called a minimal Category 1. For days it has been building eyewalls, but they are collapsing because it sucked in dry air. It is sitting in a sauna, and can’t moisten the dry air enough to get on with its business.

Because of the coastal Doppler radars [those that are still left after the Shrubbery’s purge] the forecasters can watch the eyewalls being built, but then they erode.

Things has shifted left this morning, and I’m on the eastern border of the Tropical Storm Warning. I awoke to sunshine and breezes, not exactly what I expected. At about 10:45AM there was a brief squall that is associated with an outer band, but Atlanta, Georgia and Montgomery, Alabama have gotten worse weather from this storm than I have.

There is going to be at least another day of this, and it is really wearing on my nerves. The people in New Orleans have to be going nuts, with Katrina survivors having flashbacks.

What people probably don’t understand is that if Isaac had spun up, it would have already come ashore and would not be out in the Gulf pushing surge against the coast and into the bays. As a tropical storm it is sitting out there wobbling around, eroding the beaches and barrier islands. The rest of country has ‘skin in the game’ because the price of gas will go up..

Position: 29.1N 89.9W [11PM CDT 0400 UTC].
Movement: Northwest [310°] near 8 mph [13 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 80 mph [130 kph].
Wind Gusts: 95 mph [150 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 185 Miles [295 km].
Hurricane Wind Radius: 60 miles [ 95 km].
Minimum central pressure: 968 mb.

Currently about 65 miles [100 km] South of New Orleans.
Currently about 60 miles [ 95 km] Southeast of Houma, Louisiana.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Northern Gulf Coast from east of Morgan City, Louisiana to the Alabama-Mississippi border including New Orleans, Lake Maurepas, and Lake Pontchartrain.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from the Alabama-Mississippi border to Destin, Florida and from Morgan City, Louisiana to Sabine Pass.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Intracoastal City to Morgan City, Louisiana.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for High Island, Texas to Sabine Pass.

Update: in a special advisory issued at 11:20AM CDT Isaac has been upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane. NHC says: “…RECONNAISSANCE DATA INDICATE ISAAC FINALLY ACHIEVES HURRICANE STATUS…”

High tide in New Orleans was at 6:38PM CDT with the arrival of the storm near the coastline, which amplifies the surge.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]