Hurricane Isabel toughens up; Storm returns to Category 5 strength

CNN ^ | 9.13.03

[mhking]

The adjustment came at 2:10 p.m. EDT after an Air Force Reserve and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration "hurricane hunter" aircraft reported surface wind speeds of 192 miles per hour (307 kph).

The storm had dropped to Category 4 strength in the center's morning advisory. It is uncommon for Category 5 storms -- the highest designation on the Saffir-Simpson scale -- to maintain their intensity for longer than 30 hours, said Max Mayfield, director of the hurricane center. Category 5 hurricanes can inflict catastrophic damage.

[per loin]

What are the chances it will hit DC next Friday?

[southernnorthcarolina]

I assume Pat Robertson is on the case.

[shellylet]

I was thinking more like, battin' down the hatches, here blow the democrats"!

[billorites]

Isabel sounds kind of sexy.

And in a heterosexual sort of way too.

I like that in a hurricane.

[AntiGuv]

The economic perspective:

Isabel threatens U.S., insurers

[SamAdams76]

There are surprisingly few songs written about hurricanes. The only ones that I have in my library are:

• Suzy Bogguss "Lovin' A Hurricane" - This is from her very fine 1992 Voices In The Wind album that included the hits "Drive South" and "Letting Go."

• Carol Douglas "A Hurricane Is Coming Tonight" - This reached #81 for Carol back in 1975. Not a big hit but a pretty decent song. I personally think it should have charted higher. You might remember Carol for her #11 smash "Doctor's Orders" from the same year. I have that song on the Rhino collection "Didn't It Blow Your Mind - Soul Hits of the 70s, Volume 14." That is an excellent series by the way. I have all the discs. BTW, I got the Carol Douglas "Hurricane" song by taping it off the radio during an oldies show ("The Lost 45s" with Barry Scott). This is how I collect most of my rarities. BTW, Carol has no relation (that I know of) to Carl Douglas - the artist behind the 1974 #1 smash "Kung Fu Fighting."

• Neil Young "Like A Hurricane" - From the very awesome "Decade" box set. I also have a live version on "Live Rust". If you don't own these albums, drop what you are doing and go get them.

• Bob Dylan - "Hurricane" - From the very decent and overlooked 1976 "Desire" album. You can also find it on various compilations but don't waste your money on those. Bob Dylan can only be properly experienced through his studio albums.

Well that wraps it up. Only four songs in my music library with "Hurricane" in the title. I did not consider Hurricane Smith, the 1970s recording artist who had a novelty hit with "Babe, What Did I Say." BTW, I hate that song but I do have it in my collection with a few other forgettable Hurricane Smith tunes.

[Dog Gone]

It will probably flip from 5 to 4 several times before landfall as eyewall replacement cycles take place. The forecasters have no long range confidence in where this storm is headed, and neither should we.

I've followed these things long enough to have a low confidence in five day forecasts. I hope it turns north. But I wouldn't bet my life on my hope.

[Gringo1]

You forgot the Scorpians "Rock you Like a Hurricane"

[txhurl]

Hey, geezer, ya forgot The Scorpion's Here I am, (Rock you like a Hurricane).

Drop what yer doin! :)

[SamAdams76]

Nice catch. That's a rocking song too and I don't have it in my collection. In fact, I don't have any Scorpions at all in my collection (but I do have plenty of .38 Special and ZZ Top). I'm going to have to amend that soon.

[txhurl]

I am of the personal belief that if someone beats someone else to it, join-up date should determine the order of post placement. This is what I would hire a Mod for.

[RipSawyer]

"I hope it turns north. But I wouldn't bet my life on my hope."

I HOPE it turns north early and falls apart at sea. My GUT says N. Myrtle Beach.

[Dog Gone]

All the model forecasts have shifted west from their trajectories just 12 hours ago. They are now pointing toward the Carolinas, Virginia, and Maryland.

By Monday they may be pointing toward Florida or Georgia. We'll have to wait and see.

[Think free or die]

Falling apart at sea would be REALLY great. I'm pretty worried about the potential for heavy rains and high winds here in the Philadelphia area. Our property backs up to a stream and we have shallow-rooted 100 foot tulip poplars all around the property. I think I'll go visit some of the neighbors along the stream in the next day or so. We have a downstream neighbor with a footbridge over the stream and another who put a chainlink fence across it. Both of these barriers tend to dam up the stream during high water, causing flooding. So far the flooding hasn't threatened our house, but during Allison it came too close to our cesspools for comfort.

[Senator Pardek]

I remember Gloria in college (I was in school upstate) and it was only a Cat 3. This could get dicey.

[Dog Gone]

Cool pic.

I think it's a gimme that you're going to get a lot of rain out of this. Whether it's a dangerous storm at the time is another question.

The last thing NY needs is a hurricane hitting Manhattan. It would make the blackout seem like a picnic.

[rwt60]

Check the Navy forecast here:
http://www.surfinfo.com/html/fnmoc.html

Mouse over the times to see where it's headed.

[sarcasm]

(I was in school upstate)

Here?

[oceanview]

gloria weakened significantly in the last 100 miles before it crossed long island, it was not a 3 when it made landfall. we rode that one out, but the eye passed to the east of us, which makes a big difference, no storm surge.