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
It's at 135 mph now which makes it a Category 4. Landfall expected at, I believe they're saying 2 a.m. CDT.
I think tides figure into the equation.
There's a woman on saying he's checking things out and will report back in 30 minutes.
We just got our first rumbles of thunder here in Montgomery. Still light to moderate winds (around 20 MPH) and light rain, but you can feel the pressure changing.
are you gonna make it that long?
Told ya.
The Mobile South buoy is now reporting NW winds and rising barometer. It is located 64 SSW of Dauphin Is.
64 NM that is....
I don't know about other ones.. I've only been here. Actually, what method of what 3D graphics are you talking about? :-)
Yep.
Sure, that's only midnight for me (I'm in California).
Dave in Pensacola (WB3WFH I think) -- Pressure 29.5 and falling, Transformers blowing, TORNADO on the ground going through vicinity of 9th Avenue!!!!
Within minutes, I would imagine there will be similar reports from Mobile.
Dr. Lyons on TWC was speculating about weakening to a Cat 3 in the 11:00 ET hour. Maybe the rebuild of the SW eyewall negates that.
10M north of Mobile, pressure 29.18 and falling, winds 40MPH with High gusts.
Hurricane Watch Net report of a tornado "going through" the 9th Avenue "facility" in Pensecola Florida.
Will monitor for any new info........
My sister-in-law lives in Pensacola and has had the kids at home since Tuesaday as they have been preparing the schools for shelters. Hadn't heard about the Coliseum - any other news you hear would be appreciated. Tried to call - phone is out. My wife & I are even more worried about her brother who lives ON Ft. Walton Beach. Any news there from anyone would be great. Prayers for all in the path of Ivan.
The pier collapsed about 4 hours ago in Navarre Beach, other than that I have heard no reports from navarre. Will keep monitoring.
Gulf Shores, AL: sustained winds E @ 53. Barometer 29.21. No word on gusts.
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