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
Can't believe they would allow their fans to be in danger in this kind of weather, though. And I'm sure, just as here, there are diehard fans.
It's kind of unreal to watch.
Probably LSTs (Landing Ship-Tank), though I wouldn't be too surprised to see some LCACs (Landing Craft-Air Cushioned).
We moved to Delaware from the impossibly liberal state of Merryland this past June. We owned a home on the water in Marryland and have it now up for sale. Currently we are, as stated, in Delaware, about 8 miles from Rehobeth Beach.
In a bit of NOT serendipity, we are worried about TWO houses. The latest from the weather station is the Chesapeake Bay is expected to be impacted from a tremendous push of ocean water up the inlets and coves. Our other house is on a cove but it *is*, ahem, way up high and not likely to get swamped.
Still there is a boat pavillion and several piers on the property that I'm not sure will make it.
Here in Delaware, where we've decided to stay at home, the irony is we are LESS likely to be affected by Isabel than at our other house. We are 100 miles away from that house. I did ask my daughter to check on it when all is over with this hurricane.
In another bit of irony, husband and I discussed going to our Merryland house and get away from this eastern shore. Now THAT house is in danger.
We have bath tubs full of water here. Dogs have been walked and are in for the day. The wind is really kicking up here now. We secured the place, taking in all lawn ornaments and eveything that could blow around. Our other house has already been cleared out so this should be okay.
BOTH houses are surrounded by tall, thin oak trees. Last night, we even said a prayer. We couldn't go to a shelter as all pets must be in cages. Come on, we have six cats, and two dogs, one is very big. We'll wait it out here and hope our other house makes it through.
Wish us luck and I will keep in touch so longs as we have power.
I was about to add to my post the issue of the "floppy hoods". I love it when the anchors in the studio tell the reporter in the field to "stay safe, don't stay out in the dangerous weather for our sake".
The hurricane coverage follows a script. While the storm is way offshore the wind damage is touted with a bunch of "it could", etc. dire warnings. Then, as the storm approaches the shore and peters out, the dire warnings shift to the weak tornados that hurricanes sometimes spawn. Once that phase passes without incident, they focus on storm surge. Finally, they conclude coverage with the infinite "we dodged a bullet" lines, etc.
Enough of baseball. Back to our regular programming. LOL!
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