[appalachian_dweller]

Please excuse the all caps, I copied off the website. Here's the latest. Man I hope this thing turns out to sea!

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
330 PM EDT MON SEP 15 2003

...DANGEROUS HURRICANE ISABEL MAY AFFECT THE REGION LATER THIS
WEEK...

THE CENTER OF HURRICANE ISABEL WAS LOCATED AT 780 MILES SOUTH SOUTHEAST OF CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON. THIS POSITION IS ALSO ABOUT 505 MILES EAST OF NASSAU. ISABEL IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST AROUND 8 MPH AND A TURN TO THE NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

THE OFFICIAL TRACK FROM THE TROPICAL PREDICTION CENTER BRINGS THE STORM INLAND ALONG THE MID ATLANTIC COAST ON THURSDAY. AS WITH ALL TROPICAL SYSTEMS THERE IS A MARGIN OF ERROR...AT THIS TIME THE MARGIN OF ERROR FOR A THREE DAY FORECAST IS 200 MILES IN ANY DIRECTION.

WITH LANDFALL SLATED IN LESS THAN THREE DAYS...NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE PREPARATIONS. GO OVER YOUR FAMILY DISASTER PLAN. GATHER NON PERISHABLE FOODS AND BOTTLED WATER. CHECK FLASH LIGHTS AND PORTABLE RADIOS. GET EXTRA BATTERIES. FILL YOUR VEHICLES WITH FUEL. GATHER MEDICATIONS AND EXTRA PERSONAL CARE ITEMS. SHOULD YOU HAVE TO EVACUATE OR MOVE TO A SHELTER...CONSIDER PLANS FOR PET CARE.

AS THE STORM NEARS THE COAST...THE STORM TRACK FORECAST WILL BE BETTER DEFINED. LANDFALLING HURRICANES CAN PRODUCE VIOLENT WINDS... TORNADOES...FLOODING RAINS...AND INUNDATION OF COASTAL AREAS BY STORM SURGE AND TIDAL FLOODING.

FROM THE CURRENT TRACK...THE STORM IS FORECAST TO BE A FAST MOVER. A FAST MOVING STORM IS GENERALLY ACCOMPANINED BY STRONGER WINDS. IF THE STORM SLOWS DOWN...EXCEPT HIGHER RAINFALL TOTALS. STORMS OF SIMILAR HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE ARE THE CHESAPEAKE-POTOMAC HURRICANE IN 1933 AND HURRICANE HAZEL IN 1954.

ALL ARE URGED TO FOLLOW THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS ON HURRICANE ISABEL THIS WEEK. BE READY TO TAKE ACTION IF A WATCH IS ISSUED FOR THE AREA. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER DETAILS AND UPDATES ON THIS DANGEROUS HURRICANE. YOU CAN ALSO CHECK OUR WEBSITE AT:

WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV/LWX

[yonif]

CAN ANYONE TELL ME if New London, CT (which is right on the coast of Connecticut) is going to be hit by the hurricane?

[Petronski]

Special weather statement
national weather service baltimore md/washington dc
330 pm edt mon sep 15 2003

...dangerous hurricane isabel may affect the region later this
week...

The center of hurricane isabel was located at 780 miles south southeast of cape hatteras north carolina this afternoon. This position is also about 505 miles east of nassau. Isabel is moving toward the west-northwest around 8 mph and a turn to the northwest is expected over the next 24 hours.

The official track from the tropical prediction center brings the storm inland along the mid atlantic coast on thursday. As with all tropical systems there is a margin of error...at this time the margin of error for a three day forecast is 200 miles in any direction.

With landfall slated in less than three days...now is the time to make preparations. Go over your family disaster plan. Gather non perishable foods and bottled water. Check flash lights and portable radios. Get extra batteries. Fill your vehicles with fuel. Gather medications and extra personal care items. Should you have to evacuate or move to a shelter...consider plans for pet care.

As the storm nears the coast...the storm track forecast will be better defined. Landfalling hurricanes can produce violent winds... Tornadoes...flooding rains...and inundation of coastal areas by storm surge and tidal flooding.

From the current track...the storm is forecast to be a fast mover. A fast moving storm is generally accompanined by stronger winds. If the storm slows down...except higher rainfall totals. Storms of similar historical significance are the chesapeake-potomac hurricane in 1933 and hurricane hazel in 1954.

All are urged to follow the latest developments on hurricane isabel this week. Be ready to take action if a watch is issued for the area. Stay tuned to noaa weather radio or your local media for further details and updates on this dangerous hurricane. You can also check our website at:

www.erh.noaa.gov/lwx

[sauropod]

Damn, damn, damn. Right outside the front door!