Posted on 09/17/2003 8:14:30 PM PDT by 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
Back in a bit.
...Eyewall of Isabel coming ashore on the North Carolina Outer Banks... 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 Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect north of Chincoteague to Moriches Inlet New York...including Delaware Bay. A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect south of Cape Fear to South Santee River South Carolina...for the Chesapeake Bay from Smith Point northward...and for the tidal Potomac. At 11 am EDT...1500z...the center of Hurricane Isabel was located near latitude 34.4 north... longitude 75.7 west or about 55 miles south of Cape Hatteras North Carolina. This position is also about 50 miles east-southeast of Cape Lookout North Carolina. The eyewall of Isabel...where the strongest winds are located...is currently coming ashore along the southern Outer Banks. Isabel has a very large eye...and winds within the eye will diminish...before increasing rapidly as the back edge of the eye passes by. People are strongly cautioned not to venture out during the eye passage unless absolutely necessary. Isabel is moving toward the northwest near 18 mph and this motion is expected to continue today with a turn to the north-northwest overnight. On the forecast track...the center of Isabel is expected to make landfall between Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout North Carolina within the next couple of hours...and move inland over eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia over the next 24 hours. Maximum sustained winds are near 100 mph with higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected prior to landfall. Although Isabel will weaken as it moves inland...unusually strong winds...with gusts to hurricane force...may be experienced far inland over the elevated terrain of northern Virginia and Maryland...as well as on high-rise buildings and other structures. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 115 miles from the center...and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 345 miles. Cape Hatteras just reported a wind gust of 79 mph...and a gust to 85 mph was reported at Ocracoke North Carolina. The most recent minimum central pressure reported by a hurricane hunter aircraft was 956 mb...28.23 inches. Storm surge flooding of 5 to 8 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. Ham radio operators have reported a storm surge of close to 4 feet on the Neuse river at New Bern North Carolina. 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...eastern Virginia...and southeastern Maryland today. Repeating the 11 am EDT position...34.4 N... 75.7 W. Movement toward...northwest near 18 mph. Maximum sustained winds...100 mph. Minimum central pressure... 956 mb. For storm information specific to your area...please monitor products issued by your local weather office. Intermediate advisories will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 1 PM EDT and 3 PM EDT followed by the next complete advisory at 5 PM EDT. Forecaster Franklin/Stewart |
Kill Devil hills is at the very top of the outer banks near the Bridge that you cross to get to the island.
Hatteras is down at the Bottom in the wider part of the island near Ocracroke.
(That would be areas 1 and 6 on yer handy Ptown evac map)
http://www.ci.portsmouth.va.us/eoc/main.html.
Power's been flickering, a lot of rain and wind so far. I'll keep you updated when I can.
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