Sunday Isabel LBN Thread: U.S. Warily Eyes Hurricane Isabel

[VolcanoJen]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&nci...

Hurricane Isabel weakened slightly Sunday but still was a powerful Category 4 storm as it plowed across the Atlantic Ocean on a course that could slam it into the central East Coast late this week.

"It's looking more and more likely that this is going to be a big event for the eastern United States," National Hurricane Center meteorologist Eric Blake said Sunday.

Computer models predict that weather conditions over the East Coast should prevent Isabel from turning back out to sea and missing land, hurricane specialist Stacy Stewart said.

"Landfall along the U.S Mid-Atlantic coast somewhere between North Carolina and New Jersey between 4 or 5 days (Thursday or Friday) is appearing more and more likely," Stewart said. "Little or no significant weakening is expected to occur until after landfall occurs."

As this storm increasingly threatens the east coast, and as conditions change daily, let's try to keep one Isabel thread going daily in LBN.

Here's a link to our previous LBN discussion about Isabel, started Thursday, September 11:
Heads Up East Coast - Weather Channel Getting Worried

Thanks!
VolcanoJen
DU Moderator

[VolcanoJen]

1. Hurricane Watchers: Please post any Sunday updates here

Let's keep all of Sunday's Isabel updates consolidated into this thread. It would be helpful to our readers if you could label such new information as "UPDATE" in your subject line.

Thanks!
VolcanoJen
DU Moderator

[Cooley Hurd]

2. UPDATE: computer models are narrowing landfall estimates...

...anywhere from the Outer Banks to Cape Cod. Yikes!!!!

[Chico Man]

7. That BAM track takes it right over RI...

Hopefully that is not the case! Yikes! However, any of those tracks would be devastating!

[expatriot]

12. actually, the farther north they go...

...the better since cold water makes them die faster. colder water is a huge drag on them.

[DemVet]

14. UPDATE: Strike Probability Map

[patdem]

3. Since I live in the expected track I would like to add this link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

As it has the latest info from tracking stations.

PS I live in Norfolk, VA which is at the mouth of the chesapeake bay which is the most likely track .. although the outter banks will be hit the worst. I do not live in a flood zone, but all of norfolk is subject to flooding as we are at about 0 sea level.

[Outvoicer]

4. could be costly ...

if damage is serious ... can we get back some of that $87 billion to help folks out?

Hmmm, Mr. Bush?

[Cha]

5. Thanks! This is very important!

I hope there is some miracle that Isabel does Not touch land along the Eastern Coast of the United States or anywhere. Hurricanes can be so Devastating!


This a shot of Hurricane Iniki over Kauai in 1992 that I was in.

[Lorien]

6. sgr2 posted some very useful tracking images

on this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[goobergunch]

8. Gack...the EGRR shows it passing right over my house

It could hit anywhere from the Outer Banks (NC) to New York.

[Nottingham]

9. Keep those gas tanks full for Evacuation! Its going to be Massive

I was in a evacuation in Florida and the Filling stations on the evacuation route ran out of gas so keep those tanks full!

Good Luck!

[Cha]

10. Good Point! We didn't have anywhere to go in '92 on Kauai

but it would have been good to have Full tanks after the hurricane to be able to travel around the Island digging your way Out!

[MaineDem]

11. If it's bad they'll activate the Guard

Oh wait...

Sorry for the sarcasm. I know this is serious. I'll be watching with interest.

[DemVet]

13. Actually, you are correct....

...on this matter. I am a Hugo veteran. The National Guard was activated and for good reason. There will be too much going on and local and state law enforcement will be overwhelmed. People will act like fools during times like these. Everybody stay safe.

[DemVet]

15. Joe Bastardi: Cape Henry, VA to Dewey Beach, DE lookout!!

This is his updated prediction. It'll most likely change tomorrow. Long Island and New England (and even FL and NC, for that matter) are not out of the woods yet.

[hatrack]

16. UPDATE - Sun. 11PM AST - Winds 155, Pres. 933, Still Moving W/NW

NHC thinks a turn to the northwest expected in the next 24 hours. They're now giving distances to Cape Hatteras (850 miles) instead of to Turks & Caicos or Leewards. Hurricane-strength wind radius continues to broaden. Storm moving now at roughly 13 miles per hour. Note: this storm is still only about 5 mph in wind speed under the Category 5 classification.


National Hurricane Center