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Hurricane Isabel weakens as it moves farther inland. Isabel made landfall at 1 PM EDT this afternoon in the southern outer banks. However it's been a very active day and historic also. 75% of southeast Virginians are without power tonight. That includes most of Virginia Beach and Norfolk, Virginia as well. Norfolk, Virginia also had a tornado comfirmation earlier today in the downtown area. In addition portions of the VAB fishing pier went into the Atlantic courtesy of 20-25 foot angry seas and the wind still continues to blow to near hurricane force in gusts in Virginia Beach this evening. Thus more power outages, perhaps over a million people without power in southeastern Virginia before all is said and done.
A hurricane warning remains in effect north of Surf City, North Carolina to Chincoteague, Virginia including the Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds and the Chesapeake Bay south of Smith Point. The hurricane warning will likely be replaced to tropical storm warnings by 11 PM tonight.
A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the Chesapeake Bay north of Smith Point including Annapolis and Baltimore Harbor and the Tidal Potomac. The coastal waters affected by tropical storm warnings are from Surf City, NC to Cape Fear, NC and from Chincoteague, Virginia northward to Moriches Inlet, New York including Delaware Bay and the New York Harbor.
At 7 PM EDT, the center of Hurricane Isabel was located near latitude 36.5 north, longitude 77.5 west or very near Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina.
Movement is northwest at 20 mph. A gradual increase in forward speed and a turn towards the north northwest is expected overnight tonight.
Maximum sustained winds are now down to 80 mph with higher gusts. Further weakening is anticipated over the next 24 hours and Isabel is expected to become extratropical north of the mason dixon line on Friday. However very storng winds with gusts to hurricane force are likely over the coastal Chesapeake Bay, southeast Virginia and the mountain ridges west of DC and Baltimore. This will cause massive power outages due to downed trees and powerlines. If you can avoid travel in the mid atlantic region tonite, you've made the right call. Just forget travelling tonight because most places without power won't have power back on for several days and in some cases a few weeks such as the case in southeast Virginia. To have 75% of se Virginia without power is quite devastating and unfortunately it may take several weeks to get everyone online down there.
In Maryland and Virginia, bay storm surge flooding of 4-8 feet above normal tide levels is expected along with large and battering waves. Rainfall amounts of 2-6 inches is expected in the path of Isabel. Isolated tornadoes are possible in the right front quadrant of the circulation. A tornado was sighted earlier this evening in downtown Norfolk, Virginia and likewise in Snow Hill, Maryland, a weak tornado was sighted there also. Sustained winds of 45-60 mph with gusts to 75 mph is expected in southeast Virginia through this evening before tapering off. Sustained winds of 30-45 mph with gusts to 70 mph is likely across Maryland as well as Washington DC. Many power outages are likely in this situation!!! Stay indoors overnight tonight and ride this one out in the mid atlantic. A nice weekend is ahead folks!! Unfortunately there will be lots of cleaning up to be done. There are trees down in central Maryland with 50 mph gusts here near martin state airport as well.
More updates later.
Jim
Minimum central pressure has risen to 965 mb or 28.50 inches.
Prayers to you and to everyone in the path of Isabel. The winds have been picking up here in CT, but we're only expecting a max of 30-40 mph tomorrow.