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

[U S Army EOD]

Same one that had the young girl and little black dog in the house.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Back in '99 when Floyd came through our school district did NOT close and it was due to hit here around 10am..... we thought they were so stupid......then this past winter when we had a major storm coming at us (we got over 30 inches of snow up here) the school district waited until 6am to cancel school.....lol.....but they have cancelled for tomorrow ---- we are all stunned they didn't wait until 6am to tell us.....lol

[Howlin]

She hasn't posted since 2:47, but I know her child was home from school, and I believe her husband was there.

And she was ready.

Man, I bet she's fuming......LOL.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Well, she has beer..... she made sure she had beer....lol

[Howlin]

We seem to be missing quite a few of our hurricane people tonight. They must be the ones north of me.

[abner]

I just heard the strangest noise! I don't even know how to describe it. I'm wondering if a small twister came through...

[rwfromkansas]

Am praying for you.

Sounds scary.

[Howlin]

What did it sound like.....anything you've ever heard? Whoosh???

[NautiNurse]

Get under your desk!

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

A tornado is loud - some say it sounds like a train......

[glock rocks]

There are a lot of folks w/o power tonight... and many with greater concerns. I've grown a fondness for a lot of folks I've met here, and have placed trust in Providence. We've done our part so far, as have they. Faith.

[rwfromkansas]

I know I have been focusing on the wind speed and all, but I sure hope Gabz is okay. Great Freeper and it worries me that she hasn't written back when she has been here a lot.

[abner]

It sounded like a whoosh & an airplane. I can't imagine anything flying around here right now though. Mechanical in nature, but not close enough for me to know if it was a tornado. I've been in a few of those. I just don't know. It was darn quiet though right before it. Strange. .

[glock rocks]

lifeflight?

[abner]

A tornado is loud - some say it sounds like a train......

This was very loud! Scared me and I'm not jittery. I've heard tornados before, but this was in a different area. Tough to describe. I suppose I will find out tomorrow.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

It may have been a small tornado or even wind sheer..... very similar........

[EternalVigilance]

Never have lost power here on the backside of Capitol Hill. Not complaining, mind you. :-)

The last 45 minutes or so we've had our share of sideways rain.

[abner]

lifeflight?

Too loud for that.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

ABner, you're near the creek right? Could it have been something floating in the creek?

[NautiNurse]

If it wasn't VOC snoring, then maybe you need to get him to sleep downstairs tonight.