Avian Flu Diary: Hurricane Isaias Headed For Bahamas & Threatens East Coast Of United States

#15,392

Since coming off the coast of Hispaniola last night (former) Tropical Storm Isaias has strengthened into a CAT 1 hurricane, and is now bearing down on the Southern Bahamas. While their remains some uncertainty in its track over the next 48 hours, the east coast of Florida is within the forecast cone, as do other states from Georgia to New England further out in time.

From this morning's 8 am intermediate advisory from the National Hurricane Center:

TCPAT4

BULLETIN
Hurricane Isaias Intermediate Advisory Number 13A
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL092020
800 AM EDT Fri Jul 31 2020

...STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY SQUALLS LASHING THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS...
...HURRICANE CONDITIONS EXPECTED TODAY OVER PORTIONS OF THE
BAHAMAS...

SUMMARY OF 800 AM EDT...1200 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...21.3N 73.9W
ABOUT 30 MI...50 KM NW OF GREAT INAGUA ISLAND
ABOUT 340 MI...545 KM SE OF NASSAU
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...80 MPH...130 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NW OR 305 DEGREES AT 17 MPH...28 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...990 MB...29.24 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The Tropical Storm Warning for Haiti has been discontinued.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* Northwestern Bahamas including Andros Island, New Providence,
Eleuthera, Abacos Islands, Berry Islands, Grand Bahamas Island, and
Bimini
* Southeastern Bahamas including the Acklins, Crooked Island, Long
Cay, the Inaguas, Mayaguana, and the Ragged Islands
* Central Bahamas, including Cat Island, the Exumas, Long Island,
Rum Cay, and San Salvador

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Dominican Republic entire southern and northern coastlines
* Turks and Caicos Islands

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* East coast of Florida from Ocean Reef to Sebastian Inlet
* Lake Okeechobee

Interests elsewhere along the southeast coast of the United States should monitor the progress of this system. Additional watches or warnings may be required for a portion of the Florida peninsula later today. The Tropical Storm Warning for the Dominican Republic will likely be discontinued later this morning.

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.

(Continue . . . .)

This morning's key messages from the NHC follow:

While not currently forecast to become a major hurricane, the waters over which Isaias will travel are extraordinarily warm, and that can help strengthen or sustain a hurricane's power. Winds may approach CAT 2 status later today.

If you live anywhere near the projected path of this storm, now is the time to make sure all of our plans and preparations are in order.

While this blog, and many other internet sources (I follow Mark Sudduth's Hurricane Track, and Mike's Weather page), will cover this year's hurricane season. your primary source of forecast information should always be the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida.

These are the real experts, and the only ones you should rely on to track and forecast the storm.

If you are on Twitter, you should also follow @FEMA, @NHC_Atlantic, @NHC_Pacific and @ReadyGov and of course take direction from your local Emergency Management Office.

For some recent blogs on preparing for hurricanes you may wish to revisit: