Posted on 09/15/2004 7:38:29 PM PDT by lainie
Hurricane Ivan Advisory Number 55
Statement as of 10:00 PM CDT on September 15, 2004
...Extremely dangerous Hurricane Ivan coming closer to the northern Gulf Coast...strong winds already moving onshore...
A Hurricane Warning is in effect from Grand Isle Louisiana to Apalachicola Florida...including the greater New Orleans area and Lake Pontchartrain. A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area...generally within the next 24 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion throughout the entire warning area.
A Hurricane Watch remains in effect from Morgan City Louisiana to west of Grand Isle.
A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect from Morgan City to west of Grand Isle...and from east of Apalachicola to Yankeetown Florida.
At 10 PM CDT...0300z...the large eye of Hurricane Ivan was centered near latitude 29.3 north... longitude 88.1 west or about 65 miles south of the Alabama coastline.
Ivan is moving slightly east of north near 12 mph...and this motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours. On the forecast track...the center of the hurricane will reach the coast early on Thursday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 135 mph...with higher gusts. Some fluctuations in intensity are possible prior to landfall...but Ivan is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane...category three or higher. Occupants of high-rise buildings within the Hurricane Warning area can expect higher winds than those experienced at the surface...about one Saffir-Simpson category higher at the top of a 30-story building. After landfall... hurricane force winds could spread inland up to about 150 miles near the path of the center.
People are strongly advised not to venture out from shelter during the calm conditions of the eye...as winds will increase rapidly with little or no warning when the eye passes.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center...and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 290 miles. The Dauphin Island C-man station reported sustained winds of 54 mph with a gust to 83 mph...and Pensacola Naval Air Station reported sustained winds of 51 mph with a gust to 68 mph.
The latest minimum central pressure measured by a NOAA hurricane hunter aircraft was 933 mb...27.55 inches.
Coastal storm surge flooding of 10 to 16 feet above normal tide levels...along with large and dangerous battering waves...can be expected near and to the east of where the center makes landfall. Lesser...but still significant surge values will be experienced where onshore flow occurs west of the center.
Dangerous surf conditions...including rip currents...are likely elsewhere along the Florida Gulf Coast.
Rainfall accumulations of 10 to 15 inches...with isolated higher amounts...can be expected in association with Ivan.
Tornadoes are possible over the next 24 hours in southern Alabama... the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend area...and southwestern Georgia.
Repeating the 10 PM CDT position...29.3 N... 88.1 W. Movement toward...north near 12 mph. Maximum sustained winds...135 mph. Minimum central pressure... 933 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 midnight CDT and 2 am CDT followed by the next complete advisory at 4 am CDT.
Forecaster Pasch
$$
Links
nwctwx's excellent list
Weather Underground/Tropical
The Weather Channel Map Room
Intellicast Tropical Page
BoatU.S. Hurricane Tracking
this thread continuing from http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1216382/posts
9/15/2004, 7:34 p.m. CT
The Associated Press
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — As a precautionary measure should Hurricane Ivan strike Louisiana, Gov. Kathleen Blanco has mobilized about 18-hundred soldiers and airmen of the Louisiana National Guard.
During a news conference today, Blanco said the guardsmen will be spread out over Louisiana to help with security and search and rescue operations.
Blanco says while Ivan likely will strike only a glancing blow to the state, officials still are worried about the threats of flooding and the possibility of levees being breached.
Thirty-five shelters are open around the state, and more are expected. Major General Bennett Landreneau, commander of the Louisiana National Guard, says signs along evacuation routes direct people who don't have a place to stay to the various shelters. People looking for information about shelters can call 225-925-7373. Lieutenant Gov. Mitch Landrieu says those looking for details about available hotel rooms in Texas and Arkansas can call 1-800-99-GUMBO.
Blanco, who met with FEMA officials today, says she got an early morning phone call from President Bush offering his support and anything that FEMA could do to assist.
Soldiers and Airmen will be mobilized for as long as there is a requirement for their support.
My wife is a Registered Nurse.
I know what you are saying!
Ivan made landfall in Gulf Shores per CNN.
That image seems to indicate the worse of it is already onshore.
One of the TV channels reported 105 mph on Gulfshores near Mobile.
'Cause G W Bush is flying CAP.
I bet it is because its a Democratic Governor.
Wow - this brings back memories from the time our family was holed up in a hotel in Dothan, Alabama while Hurricane Camille hit the shore, on our way home from FLA to Illinois.
BULL
Take a look at the latest radar images from Pensacolla. The most Northern edge of the eye is just touching shore right about now.
I specified where the center of the eye would hit land.
There is a difference.
That CNN guy at Gulf Shores, AL is getting pounded. You can barely see him.
Did you guys just see that concrete planter, with dirt and small palm tree, BLOW OVER from the wind? Mobile, I think. Wherever Anderson Cooper is.
Ah don't DO radar images. I was just reporting what CNN said. LOL
I think my #331, we're talking about the same guy. Red coat & ski goggles?
147,000 known power outages within Mobile.
Remember, my reputation is on the line tonight.
Perhaps it is time for me to switch over to live FOX TV, as things get interesting.
Look at time stamp on bottom of images. They are well over 1 hour old. They are not real time. They are delayed.
The eastern most eye of the storm may be passing over Gulf Shores soon...
source: http://radar.weather.gov/radar/loop/DS.p19r0/si.kevx.shtml
Hurricane Ivan Slams U.S. Gulf Coast, Kills Two
Mayor Ray Nagin said at least 100,000 of greater New Orleans' 1.5 million people relied on public transport and had no way to leave. He advised a "vertical evacuation" for those left behind, telling them to move to higher floors in tall buildings.
No, the guy on CNN on the videophone had on a blue coat. There is a guy on MSNBC in a Red coat with white stripes and wearing goggles.
..."That CNN guy at Gulf Shores, AL is getting pounded. You can barely see him..."
Hard to believe they can operate the video phone. Must not be SL type. Must be land line.
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