Isaac Preparations and Observations - N Gulf (AL, MS, LA, TX

[baygirl_1]

Im afraid this is going to be a really bad sorm surge: family on Fowl River reported pier was underwater when they awoke this morning. A friend on Mobile Bay (west side) just posted a picture of their pier, which is already destroyed. Another friend on Dog River posted pictures of their pier underwater with water starting to come over the bulkhead.

[Senobia]

Cloud bands really rolling as far away as Galveston.

http://www.galveston.com/pier23videocam/

Wind and surf really picking up, too.

http://www.galveston.com/pleasurepiervideocam/

[Meteorcane]

an oil rig on the west side of the system called LOPL1 is reporting 67 mph sustained winds gusting to 90, it is above standard observing height, but it is impressive considering it is on the west side.

[Janie2006]

KMOB (NWS-Mobile) reporting sustained east wind of 23 mph, with gusts at 38 mph.

[Janie2006]

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
232 PM CDT TUE AUG 28 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSON HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
JONES COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...
THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...LAUREL...ELLISVILLE...

* UNTIL 315 PM CDT

* AT 232 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS
OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR MILL CREEK MOVING WEST AT
35 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
TUCKERS CROSSING BY 235 PM CDT...
LAUREL BY 245 PM CDT...
ELLISVILLE BY 250 PM CDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

WINDS OF 60 MPH CAN BRING DOWN TREES...POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURY
AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. ROOFS OF MOBILE HOMES AND OUTBUILDINGS COULD BE
DAMAGED...AND MINOR ROOF DAMAGE TO WELL BUILT HOMES AND STRUCTURES
COULD OCCUR.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. IF A TORNADO
IS SPOTTED... ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IN A STURDY
STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT TUESDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHEASTERN MISSISSIPPI.

[Puddinhead]

Hey, everyone...Longtime lurker here. Lifetime New Orleanian (only stretch of time I've lived outside NOLA city limits has been one month in Starkville, MS and the following month in Baton Rouge, counting both evacuation during and immediately after Katrina) who, like probaby most, has decided to just shelter in place for this one. I'm in one of the neighborhoods in the somewhat sprawling part of NOLA called Gentilly which is sort of near the geographical center of the city. We took about six feet or so of water at this spot during Katrina, originating both from the Inner Harbor Navigation ("Industrial") Canal and the breach at London Avenue Canal. I experienced Betsy and Camille as a child, and every other tropical system to effect the area up to our first ever evacuation, for Andrew. We evacuated for Georges, Katrina, and Gustav, and pretty much stayed for everything in between those. Oddest tropical experience? Probably attending the New Orleans Saints/New York Giants game in the Superdome October 27, 1985, as Tropical-Storm-and-the-following-day-Hurricane Juan hugged the LA coast...tropical gusts ripping umbrellas from fans arms on the way into the Dome. LOL

So far Isaac has presented itself inside the city as particularly dry tropical weather...we've had infrequent light rain, but mainly so far the only evidence of a tropical system offshore has been the fairly high gusts as bands swing through the city, with some of the bands being dry. The latest just through had a burst of light rain. As is sometimes typical, in between the bands the winds drop off to almost calm, and we've even had the sun peek through a couple of times. At the moment I'd say slightly breezy with a light drizzle. Stronger gusts blowing the hibiscus and queen palm just outside the kitchen window now.

Traffic going past my house is only a little less than probably normal for this time on a weekday, so I'd guess that says many residents are sheltering in place, and using these hours they have today to run last minute errands, make sure loved ones are secure in their own homes, etc., before hunkering down in their own homes. I've boarded up a few of my windows facing the direction I expect the worst threat but I've so many windows that boarding them all up is just not practical, and I missed out on the state program to help residents put shutters on their homes. Long story...LOL. We've moved two of our vehicles over to a friend's house several blocks away whose home is terraced up several feet higher than ours since our street is prone to rainfall flooding. Those who know anything about NOLA geography will recognize the term "Gentilly Ridge"; the friend's home is pretty much on the ridge while ours is about three blocks off, meaning about a three foot difference in floodwater level during Katrina and also meaning all rainwater that falls there ends up flowing down the street toward my house before hitting catch basins. The "getaway vehicle" has been pulled up onto the front lawn of one of the two homes across the street that haven't been renovated since Katrina, which will put them 1 1/2-2 feet above street level, hopefully enough to escape rainwater street flooding.

If anyone's interested in somewhat-real-time effects of Isaac inside NOLA I can continue to make an occaisional post up until such time that we lose power and internet access. I promise, much less long-winded than this post....

[Janie2006]

Welcome, Puddinhead!

Local Hurricane Statement from KMOB:

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
HURRICANE ISAAC LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
238 PM CDT TUE AUG 28 2012

...HURRICANE ISAAC MOVING NORTHWESTWARD TOWARD THE MOUTH OF THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER...

.NEW INFORMATION...
NIGHTTIME CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO WORSEN AS SIGNIFICANT OUTER RAIN
BANDS MOVE OVER THE WARNED AREA.

.AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS LOCAL STATEMENT PROVIDES IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDED
ACTIONS FOR PEOPLE AND MARINE INTERESTS IN SELECT LOCATIONS OF INLAND
SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...THE WESTERN FLORIDA
PANHANDLE AND GULF COASTAL WATERS DESTIN TO PASCAGOULA OUT 60 NM.

.WATCHES/WARNINGS...
FOR MARINE INTERESTS...A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE
OPEN GULF WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS FROM 20 TO 60 NM.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING
LOCATIONS...UPPER MOBILE...UPPER BALDWIN...LOWER MOBILE...LOWER
BALDWIN...STONE AND GEORGE.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING
LOCATIONS...WASHINGTON...INLAND ESCAMBIA...COASTAL ESCAMBIA...INLAND
SANTA ROSA...COASTAL SANTA ROSA...INLAND OKALOOSA...COASTAL
OKALOOSA... WAYNE...PERRY AND GREENE.

FOR MARINE INTERESTS...A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT
FOR MOBILE BAY...THE GULF COASTAL WATERS FROM DESTIN FL TO PASCAGOULA
MS OUT 20 NM...AND FROM DESTIN FL TO PENSACOLA FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF INLAND
SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...SOUTHWEST ALABAMA AND THE WESTERN FLORIDA
PANHANDLE. PLEASE LISTEN CLOSELY FOR ANY FLOOD WARNINGS THAT MIGHT BE
IN EFFECT FOR YOUR AREA.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF INLAND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI...SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE AND
GULF COASTAL WATERS DESTIN TO PASCAGOULA OUT 20 NM. PLEASE LISTEN
CLOSELY FOR ANY TORNADO WARNINGS THAT MIGHT BE IN EFFECT FOR YOUR
AREA.

.STORM INFORMATION...
AT 200 PM CDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE ISAAC WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 28.4N...LONGITUDE 88.7W. THIS WAS ABOUT 160 MILES SOUTH-
SOUTHWEST OF MOBILE AL...OR ABOUT 170 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF
PENSACOLA FL. STORM MOTION WAS NW OR 310 DEGREES AT 10 MPH. STORM
INTENSITY WAS 75 MPH.

.SITUATION OVERVIEW...
THE CENTER OF HURRICANE ISAAC WAS LOCATED ABOUT 160 MILES SOUTH-
SOUTHWEST OF MOBILE AL...AND MOVING NW AT 10 MPH. ISAAC IS FORECAST
TO MAKE LANDFALL ALONG THE SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA COAST THIS EVENING.
ISAAC WILL IMPACT OUR AREA AS TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ALONG THE
IMMEDIATE COAST SPREAD INLAND ACROSS THE WESTERN FLORIDA
PANHANDLE...PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...AND INLAND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THE TORNADO THREAT WILL ALSO INCREASE
THROUGHOUT THE DAY AS OUTER RAIN BANDS MOVE FROM EAST TO WEST ACROSS
THE AREA.

STORM SURGE OF 5 TO 8 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL IS POSSIBLE ACROSS
COASTAL ALABAMA AND MOBILE BAY...ESPECIALLY FOR THE WESTERN AND
NORTHERN SHORES OF MOBILE BAY. STORM SURGE OF 3 TO 6 FEET ABOVE
GROUND LEVEL IS POSSIBLE ACROSS THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE.

THE TIDE GAGE AT DAUPHIN ISLAND IS AT 4.1 FT AND RAISING. 2-3 FT OF
WATER ON BONNEVILLE BLVD (WEST END OF DAUPHIN ISLAND) IS BEING
REPORTED. WATER STARTING TO COVER THE ROAD ON FAR EAST END NEAR BILLY
GOAT HOLE. WATER STILL RISING. DAUPHIN ISLAND CAUSEWAY (HIGHWAY 193)
NORTH OF THE BRIDGE HAS WATER OVER WASHING THE ROAD.

THE TIDAL GAGE AT COAST GUARD SECTOR (NORTH MOBILE BAY) IS NEAR 4 FT
AND STEADY. WATER BEGINNING TO SPILL ONTO CAUSEWAY...AND WATER OVER
DAUPHIN ISLAND ROAD NORTH OF THE DOG RIVER BRIDGE IS BEING REPORTED.

IN FLORIDA...PORTIONS OF FORT PICKENS ROAD (HIGHWAY 399) IS FLOODED
AND WATER OVER ROAD (GULF BLVD) AT WEST END NAVARRE BEACH FLORIDA IS
BEING REPORTED.

SQUALLS AND VERY HEAVY RAIN ASSOCIATED WITH THE HURRICANE WILL BEGIN
TO AFFECT THE AREA TODAY...AND CONTINUE THROUGH AT LEAST WEDNESDAY
NIGHT. WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINFALL AMOUNTS ARE FORECAST TO ACCOMPANY
THIS SYSTEM. STORM TOTALS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE EXPECTED ACROSS
SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI AND SOUTHWESTERN ALABAMA...WITH 10 INCHES
LOCALLY. RAINFALL TOTALS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES ARE EXPECTED FURTHER EAST
ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA AND THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE.

TORNADOES EMBEDDED IN THE OUTER RAINS BANDS MAY OCCUR ALONG THE
NORTHERN GULF COAST REGION TODAY. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT
FOR AREAS SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 84.

AS WITH ALL TROPICAL SYSTEMS...THE RIP CURRENT RISK WILL REMAIN AT
HIGH LEVELS FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.

[Extratropical94]

Shell Beach, LA is now reporting a 6 ft. surge.

[Blinhart]

Pretty much all of Louisiana South of Alexandria is under at least a Flash Flood Watch and Tropical Storm Warning/Watch. So it should get interesting for the next 48 hours.

[Portastorm]

Thanks to all of your folks along the northern Gulf coast who are reporting in this thread. We appreciate it. Stay safe!

[Janie2006]

Dauphin Island without power, but *not* directly due to Isaac. Well, kind of.

(DAUPHIN ISLAND, Ala.) - The entire island is without power, and it's not due to Isaac's heavy rains or gusting winds.

A boater had to be rescued last night trying to sail in incredibly choppy conditions.

The sailboat with sails still raised had to be abandoned, but the ship somehow managed to sail itself.

The boat sailed down past condominiums near the base of the Dauphin Island Bridge, and ran into the power line that supplies the entire island with electricity.

After busting one of the lines, the ship somehow managed to turn itself around and start sailing back into the open waters of the Gulf.

Crews have been working to try and corral the boat to keep it from doing any more damage.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Dauphin Island Causeway has been closed to all traffic, and police will be enforcing a curfew from 8:00 pm until 6:00 pm.

And that, my friends, is why you should stay in port for tropical systems.

[Puddinhead]

Thanks to all of your folks along the northern Gulf coast who are reporting in this thread. We appreciate it. Stay safe!

Safety's not a problem in NOLA just yet, but thanks for the concern just the same. I'm sure the story will be different later this evening.

[Gufler]

Safety's not a problem in NOLA just yet, but thanks for the concern just the same. I'm sure the story will be different later this evening.

Thank you for your Posts Puddinhead

[wkwally]

banding here in south Texas

[windnrain]

Alright guys, I'll be reporting obs from baton rouge as long as we have power.

We are having a hurricane party in a fairly stable place, with a few people who go to LSU who are experiencing their first cane.

I'll switch to cell phone once power runs out.

Wish me luck tonight!

[Puddinhead]

Gusts and bands are coming more frequently here in my section of NOLA now. Looking for a break to run a bag of trash out to the garage...LOL.

Local news coverage was showing live footage of the NOLA Lakefront a moment ago (I'm about two miles max south of the Lakefront) and it appeared that Lake Pontchartrain is now over the seawall and covering the recreation area between the Lake and the hurricane protection levee. Camera didn't face the levee, so I couldn't tell how high up the levee the water is so far.

[Janie2006]

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
MSZ054-055-282230-
SIMPSON MS-COPIAH MS-
358 PM CDT TUE AUG 28 2012

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
358 PM CDT TUE AUG 28 2012

...SPIRAL RAIN BAND FROM HURRICANE ISSAC WILL AFFECT SIMPSON AND
COPIAH COUNTIES.

A SPIRAL RAINBAND CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN AS WELL AS 40
TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED FROM 4 MILES NORTH OF PINOLA TO WESSON AT
355 PM CDT...MOVING WEST AT 25 MPH.

HIGH WINDS CAN BRING DOWN TREES AND LARGE LIMBS RESULTING IN SERIOUS
INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN OUTDOORS
DURING SUCH STRONG WINDS...AND BE ESPECIALLY AWARE OF OLDER TREES.

PEOPLE IN COPIAH AND NORTHWESTERN SIMPSON COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR
THESE STORMS CLOSELY.

[Blinhart]

Pressure in Lafayette is down to 1003, just 2 days ago it was 1018, so it has dropped 15 mb so far. Winds are still steadily mid 20's with gusts in the upper 30's.

[Diva]

VERY gusty winds this afternoon in Orange, TX. (on the TX/LA border)

[msbee]

Be careful, folks! We are all thinking of you!