11 PM EDT Isabel.. Hurricane watches and warnings!!!!

[WXBUFFJIM]

ISABEL NEWS

Good evening everyone. Plenty of news this evening to talk about regarding Isabel including hurricane and tropical storm watches and now warnings in effect. In addition both governors of North Carolina and Virginia have issued a state of emergency. A state of emergency declaration will ensure that the Virginia national guard, the state police, and the department of Transportation are on full alert status.

In Newport News, Virginia emergency shelters are opening on Wednesday at various areas. http://www.wavy.com/Global/story.asp?S=1443506 for the inof on locations and various things you are allowed to bring and not to bring.

EVACUATIONS

A mandatory evacuation order was given in Dare County, NC including the Cape Hatteras areas effective at 12 noon Tuesday September 16th, 2003. This means all preparations should have been rushed to completion in this area and people and residents of the area must leave. A barrier island is not a place to be during category 2-3 hurricanes. When ordered to evacuate, do so!! Better to be safe than sorry.

In addition a mandatory evacuation order was given for Ocracoke Island on the outer banks yesterday. 921 residents live on Ocracoke Island. Over 100,000 people had to flee the coast away from isabel's wrath. A great call in the outer banks this afternoon and evening.

40 navy ships are departing Norfolk, VA and are moving out to sea away from Isabels wrath. Meanwhile fighter planes and personnel are evacuating Langley Airforce Base and are headed for the midwest. A good call in both cases!!

HURRICANE WATCHES AND WARNINGS

At 11 PM EDT, a hurricane warning has been issued from Cape Fear, North Carolina northward to the North Carolina/Virginia state line including the Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds. A hurricane watch is in effect from the North Carolina/Virginia state line northward to Chincoteague, Virginia including the entire Chesapeake Bay and tidal Potomac including Washington DC and Baltimore Harbor. A hurricane watch means that the hurricane conditions are possible within 36 hours time. A hurricane warning means that the hurricane conditions are expected within 24 hours or less. Hurricane warnings maybe needed for these areas tonight into Wednesday as Isabel continues her approach.

A tropical storm watch is in effect from north of Chincoteague to little Egg Inlet, New Jersey and from south of Little River Inlet to south Santeee River, South Carolina. A tropical storm warning is in effect from Cape Fear southward to Little River Inlet, South Carolina. A tropical storm watch means that the tropical storm conditions are possible within 36 hours. A tropical storm warning means that the tropical storm conditions ae expected within 24 hour or less.

11 PM EDT ADVISORY ON ISABEL

Hurricane Isabel strengthens to a very strong category 2 hurricane and is almost a category 3 hurricane on the saffir simpson scale late tonight. Hurricane Isabel is centered at latitude 28.5 noth, longitude 71.7 west or about 520 miles sse of Cape Hatteras, NC. Movement is north northwest at 8 mph. This general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours with a gradual increase in forward speed expected there after. Maximum sustained winds have increased to 110 mph with higher gusts. This makes Isabel a very strong category 2 hurricane on the saffir simpson scale. Category 2 hurricanes have sustained winds between 96 and 110 mph. A category 3 hurricane has sustained winds between 111-130 mph. Isabel will most likely be a strong category 2 or minimal category 3 hurricane at landfall with maximum winds in the 110-120 mph range. Whether it remains a strong cat 2 or becomes cat 3 hurricane, extensive damage is likely along the coastal areas. Rainfall amounts of 6-12 inches is likely in the path of Isabel, Storm surge flooding of 7-11 feet above normal tide levels is expected along with large battering waves of 20-30 feet. Isolated tornadoes are also possible in areas particularly north and east of the center of circulation at time of landfall during the day Thursday.

Minimum central pressure is 957 millibars or 28.26 inches.

Any preparation plans should be rushed to completion at this time and folks have done a terrific job doing just that. If told to evacuate as over 100,000 folks did today in the outer banks over the past two days, do so immediately!!! It could save your life.

More updates on this throughout the night and at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov 24/7!!

Jim S.

[wx247]

Another great advisory Jim. Everything you need to know in one post! THANKS.

[WXBUFFJIM]

Governor Robert Erhlich issued a state of emergency for the state of Maryland effective as of 11 PM EDT. This just in!!!

A hurricane watch is also in effect for the entire chesapeake bay including Baltimore harbor. A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within 36 hours time.

In addition, evacuations are expected in Smith Island on the lower eastern shore tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Jim

[rainstorm]

keep up the good work