The National Hurricane Center reports that Hurricane Isaac continues to slam at Louisiana, particularly in the south at New Orleans. As a result of a breached rural levee, storm surges that were expected to reach 12 feet are now predicted to rise to 16 feet high. Hurricane Isaac is crawling northwest at 6 mph. It's slow speed and heavy rains make Isaac a "powerful force," Clarion Ledger reports. The National Hurricane Center advises that residents of the Gulf Coast remain alert.

NOAA, National Hurricane Center in Miami predicts that Tropical Storm Isaac will become Hurricane Isaac as it travels over the Gulf of Mexico and hits late Tuesday into Wednesday. 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.

Hurricane Isaac was expected to slam directly into Tampa according to reports last week. However, the US National Hurricane Center in Miami reports that Tropical Storm Isaac will actually be a category 2 Hurricane Isaac as it reaches the US Gulf Coast region by late Tuesday or early Wednesday.