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

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

WOW!!! Why anyone would choose to stay & have a hurricane "party" is beyond me. Such stupidity!

They just said the strongest winds were just now hitting Occrakoke (?sp). I'll be watching this cam as long as it is available---nothing like watching the forces of nature. It certainly puts life's petty issues in perspective.

[Lazamataz]

Hey,Laz!

We're all gonna die!!!!

[Gabz]

This is the only storm thread I've been on since last night - so it must be this one.

[Not A Snowbird]

Where in Virginia? Anywhere near Stafford county? (Cubicle bound out here.)

[MEG33]

Glad to see you are OK.

[MEG33]

You better start repenting,then!!

[wimpycat]

I was getting ready to check in with y'all when the power went out. So I was going to try to take a nap, and was just getting comfy and starting to unwind when the power came back on. We were going to continue to try to sleep, then decided we'd enjoy the electricity while it's on.

When the power goes out again, I'll try to take a nap again.

Power off: 2:00pm
Power on: 2:30pm

[Woodstock]

Thanks Howlin. I've been reading your posts on this storm for days and praying you were wrong.

[Chemist_Geek]

Calpernia put a little picture of the Viking Kitties in the corner of the map!

Where? Do you have a link to that version?

[Corin Stormhands]

They wouldn't be evacuating Stafford County yet. Doubt that they will have mandatory evacuations. I'm in Richmond about an hour south, we don't expect that here.

[putupon]

That hotel is not far from the Avalon Pier web cam.

Is it the SeaRanch II?

What's happening in Rich.?

[Slip18]

LOL! I think the three bad wolves are gone now. One is banned; one should be ashamed; and the other, hopefully, is busy at work.

[kegler4]

"WOW!!! Why anyone would choose to stay & have a hurricane "party" is beyond me. Such stupidity!"

I realize this storm isn't Camille but I am still reminded of the 20 or so folks in Biloxi (??) who decided to stay at a gulf-front hotel for a hurricane party in 1969. After the 200 mph winds roared through there was nothing left of the hotel and none of the partiers were ever found.

[NautiNurse]

When the power goes out again, I'll try to take a nap again.

Would that make it a power nap?

[mykdsmom]

Take care wimpycat....mine was out too but for only a few minutes....I suspect Howlin's is out now too cause I haven't seen her post for a while.

Take care.

MKM

[Corin Stormhands]

I heard it was the Ramada.

Winds here are about 15 mph with gusts up to 35 right now. Rainly steadily. I've already got a buttload of branches to clean up...

[NautiNurse]

Hopefully, Howlin is just out moving the cars.

[Not A Snowbird]

Okay, thanks!

[Corin Stormhands]

Wife is on the phone with a neighbor. Apparently the power is out at Johnston-Willis hospital...assume they have backup generators.

Surprised I've still got power.

[mykdsmom]

I hope so but I've been to her house and she lives in a very heavily wooded area. These gusts are picking up big time and the local news is reporting an increase in outages all over the city so I wouldn't be suprised if she's out.

MKM