[My Favorite Headache]

[Aracelis]

Someone is doing a lot of praying...

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Still it's one of the first storms i've seen where it's approach speed slowed down ( from 10 to 13 mph to around 7 ) and lost strength. Usually, when they slow down they intensify.

[dennisw]

ping

[MEG33]

This is looking better, although I'm well aware of the changes that can still take place.Just praying all you eastcoasters stay safe.

[leadpenny]

Today's Astronomy Picure of the Day:

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030916.html

Hurricane Isabel Approaches
Credit: Terra Satellite, EOS, NASA

Explanation: Where will Hurricane Isabel go? One of the stronger storm systems of modern times appears headed for one the more populated seaboards on planet Earth -- the east coast of the USA. Hurricane Isabel, pictured yesteday as it passed east of the Bahamas, has flirted with category 5 status, the most powerful hurricane category. Hurricanes are huge swirling storms with cloud systems typically larger than a state. Tropical cyclones, called hurricanes in Earth's Western Hemisphere and typhoons in the Eastern Hemisphere, get their immense energy from warm evaporated ocean water. As this water vapor cools and condenses, it heats the air, lowers pressure and hence causes cooler air to come swooshing in. Winds can reach over 250 kilometers per hour and become very dangerous. Much remains unknown about cyclones, including how they are formed and the exact path they will take.

[dawn53]

This is a really interesting link.

Pick a storm from a previous year and follow the path with your mouse. A pop up box will list the changes in Category and wind speed as the storm progressed.

I know Andrew and Mitch both intensified just before landfall, but I followed their paths and it was a pretty constant intensification along their approach to land

http://www.hurricanetrack.com/JavaHist/

[Fresh Wind]

Not sure where this is coming from or how reliable it is, but they seem to be updating it regularly.

[My Favorite Headache]

Just look at this picture of Isabel!!!

[don-o]

While it is interesting and exciting to watck nmature's power, it is even better to see this thing weakening. Hopefully, that trend continues

[My Favorite Headache]

[firewalk]

bttt

[Thinkin' Gal]

Hurricane Isabel is falling apart and fast.

One can hope and pray that all that will remain of her will be the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands.

[Treebeard]

Ok, 'fess up. Is anyone else slightly disappointed? I was really getting into this whole Izzy thing, and she fizzlefarts out before the goal line. Just damn...

Flame away, but weather is exciting when it gets ugly. I was PO'ed because a May 8 tornado missed my place by a quarter mile.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

110 Knots (over 120 MPH) is hardly falling apart. It could likely intensify as it crosses the warm Gulf Stream.

[Nexus]

Another quick point: The more this storm spreads out, the more ocean surface area to pull moisture/energy from (esp now that it's about to join up with the gulf stream). I'm not liking this situation at all.

[Howlin]

Over here!

[Rebelbase]

Have the meteorologists commented on the chances of the storm intensifying from the hot-air if it crosses over DC?

[1smallVoice]

I think the storm will continue to weak and turn north based on the cold fronts which it will intercept. Lows in Illinois last night were in the 40's.

[southernnorthcarolina]

The 11 AM report indicates more good news on all fronts -- unless you're an employee of The Weather Channel, in which case, you are deeply saddened.

Since Sunday morning, peak sustained winds have dropped from 160 mph to 105. Central pressure continues to rise steadily. And clearly, the long-awaited turn in direction has taken place.

Over the last 30 hours (Monday, 5 AM to today, 11 AM), Isabel has moved 3.0 degrees north while moving 2.2 degrees west. Compare that with the 30-hour period before that (Sunday, 11 PM through Monday, 5 AM), during which time it moved 1.8 degrees north while moving 5.3 degrees west.

As recently as yesterday, The Weather Channel was conjuring up visions of 30-foot storm surges, and an epic coastal catastrophe. I would submit that they knew then that they were crying "wolf," and that a substantial weakening was inevitable. Even if it does hit the coast (and I still have my doubts), Isabel will be closer to a nuisance than it will be to a cataclysm.

Quit drinking TWC's Kool Ade!