National Hurricane Center; Isaac Threatens To Form Category 3 Storm, 'it could get to a 3,' Expert Says
The National Hurricane Center reports that Tropical Storm Isaac can be expected as a category 2 Hurricane by late Tuesday into Wednesday with winds as fast at 110 mph. However Expert senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski, who is with the AccuWeather Hurricane and Tropical Storm Center, said Hurricane Isaac can even form into a category 3.
"If people are being told to evacuate, they should already be on the road. There is an eye forming over the center and it is over some very warm weather. There's always a risk of a storm getting a little bit stronger than anticipated. If it gets to a 2 it could get to a 3," Sosnowski reported, according to Boston Herald.
The National Hurricane Center has put up hurricane advisories that extend from east of Morgan City, La, to the city of Destin in the Panhandle of Florida. Louisiana could receive as much as 18 inches of rain, accompanied by a storm surge of up to 12 feet as well as potential tornadoes.
Fl. Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana declared a state of emergency as the storm advances. Voluntary evacuations were suggested for coastal parish residents in Louisiana. However, mandatory evacuations were executed for 53,000 residents in the St. Charles Parish and the east bank of Plaquemines Parish.
Evacuations in New Orleans have not be issued yet. Buses and trains would be used to move residents if an evacuation is necessary.
"We are just on high alert. I know the anxiety level is high," New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said.
"The storm is somewhat uncertain. Out of an abundance of caution, we will begin to take these precautions as quickly as we can."
Isaac is continuing to strengthen in power, but has also grown into a massive storm; its now tropical-storm conditions have the possibility of affecting 240 miles out from its center. So even regions outside the center of the storm will be hit by strong winds and extensive rainfall, and flooding is one of the core concerns for many places near Isaac's current track.
"There's really nothing that's going to stop this storm from forming and from strengthening," Jindal said, according to Reuters.
Isaac did little damage as it stormed pass Key West, Fl., with heavy rains and winds. The forecast predictions for the storm delayed the Republican National Convention that was supposed to begin Monday, Aug. 27, in Tampa.
