Hurricane Isabel:Live Thread #2 "Force Ten Conditions In North Carolina And Further North"

NHC | 9-17-03 | My Favorite Headache

[My Favorite Headache]

Hurricane Isabel Advisory Number 48

Statement as of 11:00 PM EDT on September 17, 2003

...Outer bands of Hurricane Isabel moving onshore...weather should gradually worsen...

A Hurricane Warning remains in effect from Cape Fear North Carolina to Chincoteague Virginia...including Pamlico and Albemarle sounds...and the Chesapeake Bay south of Smith Point. A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area...generally within 24 hours.

All preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion in the Hurricane Warning area.

A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect south of Cape Fear to South Santee River South Carolina...and north of Chincoteague to Sandy Hook New Jersey...including Delaware Bay. A Tropical Storm Warning also remains in effect for the Chesapeake Bay from Smith Point northward...and for the tidal Potomac.

At 11 PM EDT...0300z...the center of Hurricane Isabel was located by an Air Force reconnaissance aircraft near latitude 31.9 north... longitude 73.9 west or about 250 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras North Carolina.

Isabel is moving toward the north-northwest near 13 mph. A turn to the northwest with an increase in forward speed is expected prior to landfall. On the forecast track...the center of Isabel is expected to make landfall in eastern North Carolina during the day Thursday. However...conditions will deteriorate over a large area well before the center reaches the coast. Tropical storm conditions are already spreading across the coastline.

Maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph...with higher gusts. A slight increase in strength is possible prior to landfall.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 115 miles from the center...and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 315 miles. A buoy located west of the hurricane recently reported wind gusts to 74 mph and 32 foot waves.

An Air Force hurricane hunter plane recently reported a minimum central pressure of 956 mb...28.23 inches.

Storm surge flooding of 7 to 11 feet above normal tide levels... along with extremely large and dangerous battering waves...is expected near and to the north of where the center crosses the coast. Storm surge flooding of 4 to 8 ft above normal tide levels is expected in Chesapeake Bay and the tidal portions of adjacent rivers.

Storm total rainfalls of 6 to 10 inches...with locally higher amounts...are likely in association with Isabel.

There is a threat of isolated tornadoes over eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia on Thursday.

Repeating the 11 PM EDT position...31.9 N... 73.9 W. Movement toward...north-northwest near 13 mph. Maximum sustained winds...105 mph. Minimum central pressure... 956 mb.

For storm information specific to your area...please monitor products issued by your local weather office.

An intermediate advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 2 am EDT followed by the next complete advisory at 5 am EDT.

Forecaster Avila

[NautiNurse]

Stay safe! You are in our prayers.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Congress is shutdown. ISABEL FOR PRESIDENT!

ROFL ;^D

[CobaltBlue]

Just outside Fairfax City, steady rain and wind, gusts up to 24 mph per Weatherbug.

We didn't make it to the library yesterday so am taking the kids to Borders for new books in case we lose power.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

But why in the heck are the Yankees playing the Orioles right now in Baltimore?

Well, the game was scheduled for 7:35 tonight, but they moved it up to 12:35 because of the hurricane. It would've seemed more prudent to tack it onto next weekend's series with Baltimore, allbeit a little more of an advantage to the Yankees as that series is in New York.

[Slip18]

I get it now. This game will probably go down in infamy. Sheesh, playing a game in a hurricane. Ya gotta love sports.

[CollegeRepublican]

Get it straight. It is Merland. Some people are from Bawlmer. Others are from downdee shore.

If you live near DC it is the Socialist Peoples Republic of Maryland.

And atleast we have a Republican Gov now. We are trying to change.

[Petronski]

Did you notice how one little question about baseball brought all the fans out of slumber, pouncing on the thread to answer?

[LieFreeGov]

Good Luck & God Bless thru this; my parents live probably near you - off Old Landing Road near the golf course....They seem fine.....

[Slip18]

They're only at the bottom of the first. Zip to zip. It's going to be a long game -- or maybe a very short one.

[Howlin]

How ironic; once it passes Maryland, you still will have to worry!

Good luck. And stay in touch!

[Slip18]

Wishing you all the luck in the world, Fishtalk. Also saying some prayers . . .

[mykdsmom]

My husband was sent home about 11 from RTP. He said that 40 was closed d/t flooding at that time.

Our power is flickering too, I just hope we don't lose it. I keep hearing about power outages all over already even this far inland. I HATE being w/o power. I just heard on the radio that we wouldn't see the worst in Raleigh until between 3-6 pm.

MKM

[Howlin]

I understand exactly what you are saying about the coverage.

But the way I look at it, they are damned if they do and damned if they don't.

Suppose they hadn't said much about this storm and it just popped up out there?

[Not A Snowbird]

"Virginia ABC stores have just announced they're closing."

This is a tragedy! What's a hurricane party without a ready supply of stupid juice? :-)

[Overtaxed]

Sheesh, playing a game in a hurricane

Is the wind blowing in or out?

[Slip18]

Yeah, I did. Love it, Petronksi. It's good comedic relief, me thinks!

[steveegg]

Center's almost on-shore (latest Morehead composite reflectivity radar pic here and base reflectivity radar pic here - hope the NWS doesn't mind me linking directly to the pic instead of the page).

[CollegeRepublican]

Haha, I hate baseball and I answered the question. Maryland is lacrosse country.

[Howlin]

Fox is reporting that Isabel is moving NE at 18 MPH with winds 90 to 110 mph.

[steveegg]

Is the wind blowing in or out?

Does it matter in the AL? :-)