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

[EternalVigilance]

Nope. That was someone else.

[Unknown Freeper]

I know I'm wrong for not reading the 500 posts that are here since I left work but does anyone know if federal government organizations will be open tomorrow? (I know, they never work.) I have a friend in VA with no power right now who needs an update for tomorrow.

[mrobison]

I'm just being weird.

[CobaltBlue]

Is that your barbecue grill? You better put that in the garage if you're in Luray. Otherwise it is going to fly away.

[Interesting Times]

Hadn't heard about the evacuations... thanks.

[EternalVigilance]

I've heard that they won't, but you better confirm that with others.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"US Coast Guard has got an Action Request for an IMT and other assets
(I'm hoping Tonkin can elaborate, as I'm not familiar with the assets)"

Sorry Sarge I'm not sure what exactly this means.

[HughSeries]

Winds should drop rapidly now. Weathermen and anchors and reporters have used it all up doing dramatic live reports in their foul weather togs.

[Interesting Times]

Winds should drop rapidly now. Weathermen and anchors and reporters have used it all up doing dramatic live reports in their foul weather togs.

After the comet hits, all that will be left are 600 million cockroaches and Geraldo.

But I repeat myself...

[Jackie-O]

Howl, I keep getting the recording,"all circuts are busy right now, this is just a temporary condition, try again later." I wish my son would/could call!!!
I have not had time to read thru the thread since I got home..
Have any freepers been in touch with anyone east of Raleigh this afternoon??
I'm going to be off for a little bit, will check back later.

[rwfromkansas]

Um......I did not say 98 mph were nothing.

Apparently you did not read my post where I said PEOPLE IN MOBILE HOME PARKS LIKELY WOULD LOSE THEIR HOMES IN SUCH WIND SPEED.

Furthermore, as for Corin's situation, I would have assumed he would have not stayed at home if there were large trees in the area. I remember how the ground was saturated as was pointed out yesterday. My post to him was built on the presupposition that he actually took proper precautions.

Stay safe and I do hope this is over for you soon.

This is my final post on the matter of the "argument", as I am getting tired of my words being twisted, but I can't do anything about it since nothing helps. There comes a point when you just say it doesn't matter anymore. I have work to do and can't fall into this pettiness.

God bless.

[Interesting Times]

Still 80 mph max winds at 7pm.

Remarkable for it to continue as a hurricane for 5 hours after landfall...

[Interesting Times]

This is my final post on the matter of the "argument"...

If you post again, we'll know you're a liar.

[edwin hubble]

We lost power in Richmond 4 hrs ago. The laptop is on battery.

More than 1 million without power in Va.

Storm surge flooded the Midtown tunnel in Norfolk.

Many big old trees down in the Monument Ave. area of Richmond. 15,000 in shelters here.

The center is still hours away.

[exnavy]

It still looks hugh on the satelite photos, although the eye is not as defined.

[EternalVigilance]

Remarkable for it to continue as a hurricane for 5 hours after landfall...

No kidding.

[EverOnward]

There seems to be the "inside the beltway government" and the "outside the beltway government." The inside crowd got today off -- the outside gov't got out early and were told that the gov't would be closed tomorrow. The metro will be closed tomorrow until all the rails can be inspected. The schools in all the adjoining jurisdictions will also be closed. Many of the schools are being used as temporary shelters (my daughter's high school for one). Trees are already falling in the district and cutting off power and the worst of the storm isn't expected until 10 pm or later. People in sections of Alexandria VA are being ordered to evacuate.

[rwfromkansas]

How horrible!

I was somewhat shocked at pics of people "braving thet wind" right by the beach.

Even in this hurricane, that is insane.

[rwfromkansas]

Agreed. It is almost like they have a death wish. Well, bring it. People that are trapped are who need the emergency folks to come get them.

[Interesting Times]

Just posted at storm2k:

Haven't been able to read the boards to see if this has made it up but there is basically catastrophic flooding from the storm in Pamlico, Craven, and Carteret Counties. The national guard is currently trying to rescue about 100 people near Harlow that are stranded and at least 40 homes in the area are either flooded, destroyed, or gone. Pamlico doesn't sound much better. In Carteret you really can't get to the eastern half of the county at the moment because of the water. In Atlantic there are currently 200 homes surrounded by water and rescue efforts are ongoing. Evidently the water is so high that the sub division on the other side of the highway where I live has been flooded by North River. Its only supposed to get worse tommorow because the waters not going anywhere. Just wanted to update you all because it didn't seem to make the national news.

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