Hurricane Isabel Is Falling Apart/But Could Re-Gain Strength-Live Thread

NHC | 9-16-03 | my favorite headache

[My Favorite Headache]

Hurricane Isabel is falling apart and fast. Re-Con planes have been flying in the storm since midnight and the entire west quad of the storm has disappeared. The eastern portion of the storm has a wind around 110KTS. There is discussion that re-strengthening will occour within 24 hours though so this still remains a threat.

Pressure has dramatically risen as well. Discussion currently is Isabel making landfall in either Northern South Carolina or Southern North Carolina and a due north move after landfall. Thinking is a landfalling Category 2 minimal 3 storm.

[MEG33]

Dennis,2 years ago Allison,which was only a tropical storm by landfall caused massive flooding in the Houston area.The Medical center was hard hit,destroying valuable research.

[My Favorite Headache]

Hurricane isabel has seen better upper level environments. The storm is currently being affected by a negatively tilted trough dangling off the mid-atlantic coast of the united states as well as a strong ridge to its west over the gulf of mexico. The trough is imparting just the slightest amount of wly shear to the hurricane but the fact that the trough is located north of 30n probably does not explain the full story. The hurricane's biggest problem is most likely dry air and restricted outflow over the wrn semicircle.

A large area of dry air extends across the bahamas and wrn atlc and it does appear that some of this air is becoming entrained into the system as the strongest convection has shifted to the ern semicircle. In addition. The strong ridge to the west has restricted upper level ventilation in that direction. And so it appears on satellite imagery as though the hurricane has hit a brick wall. However. An anticyclone centered just n of hispaniola near 21n71w and a ridge axis extending nwd along 24n66w 32n66w has provided sufficient outflow over the northern. Eastern. And southern semicircles. With two deep-layered anticyclones centered east of new england and over texas. Isabel will shoot for the weakness in the ridge and will head towards the mid-atlantic coast over the next 2-3 days.

[leadpenny]

Looks like I may have a better work-week in Northern Virginia than expected. Speaking of which, I gotta go.

[dennisw]

Hopefully some fetal tissue research was ruined.

[Howlin]

Between Thursday morning and Thursday night.

[Howlin]

Do NOT let this hurricane fool you.

[onyx]

I'm relieved to see you're up and on the job. Moving plants into the garage at this hour! What will the neighbors think? ;-)

[Howlin]

Up to take dogs out! Believe me, I'm going back.

I am concerned that people are going to dismiss this storm; this storm is doing exactly what Hugo did.

It will reorganize.

[Howlin]

[rambo316]

Just like I told my wife: "This thing is going to not even affect us up here in the Norhteast. All the media is hysterical.

[onyx]

Thank you for posting the red x. LOL!

[My Favorite Headache]

Morning Howlin! When the sun comes up...the waters shall heat. She has another 12 hours of bad air to go through. Then it is clear sailing for her to get back up to strong Cat 3.

[MEG33]

Heart research and blood supply.30 inches of rain fell in some areas.The National guard helped in rescues.

[My Favorite Headache]

[My Favorite Headache]

[My Favorite Headache]

[My Favorite Headache]

[glock rocks]

your photos aren't displaying... need to clear yer buffer...

looks like weather.com doesn't like linking.

[csvset]

All the media is hysterical.

Yep, "It's the end of the world!" mode here in Va. Beach.

Standing by for the obligatory reporter standing out in the rain reporting, "It's wet and windy".

[My Favorite Headache]