[Fawn]

I heard that it will degrade some when it hits the mountains in cuba, dominica? I am anxious to see the next tract forecast at 5pm....if eye is even more West, then it’s going to AL, Ms or LA IMHO.

[rarestia]

The actual trough across the southeastern US would have to degrade sooner for that to happen. Distinct ridges and troughs will always steer tropical systems, and there's a very distinct trough coming down across the midwest right now. This is the forecast map for Friday:

Notice the trough across the southeast. That acts as a barrier to any systems that come up from the Caribbean (i.e. Isaac). It will gradually degrade as Isaac gets closer, but not soon enough to keep the system from turning north then east.