BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) — Here's why we don't panic a week in advance when a storm is heading to Florida: it's likely going to change course.
Such is the case with Isaac. You can get out of line at Publix, and put down the plywood at Home Depot. It may be windy here, but as of now, it looks like that's it. The latest update and trajectory shows the storm is moving in a more westerly direction.
Here is the update — and map — from the National Hurricane Center:
RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT DATA AND SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATE THAT
ISAAC HAS BECOME BETTER ORGANIZED DURING THE PAST SEVERAL HOURS.
WHILE THE CIRCULATION CENTER REMAINS ELONGATED EAST-TO-WEST WITH
MULTIPLE EMBEDDED VORTICITY MAXIMA…THE LARGE CENTRAL AREA OF
LIGHT WINDS HAS SHRUNK AS THE STRONGEST WINDS MOVE CLOSER TO THE
CENTER. AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT REPORTED
66 KT FLIGHT-LEVEL WINDS AT 850 MB NORTHEAST OF THE CENTER…ALONG
WITH SFMR BIAS-CORRECTED WIND ESTIMATES NEAR 50 KT. BASED ON THESE
DATA…THE INITIAL INTENSITY IS INCREASED TO 50 KT.
THE 12Z POSITION USED A MEAN CENTER…WHICH RESULTED IN A SOUTHWARD
ADJUSTMENT. SINCE THEN…ISAAC APPEARS TO HAVE ACQUIRED A STRONGER
NORTHWARD COMPONENT OF MOTION…AND THE INITIAL MOTION IS A
SOMEWHAT UNCERTAIN 295/12. THE TRACK MODEL GUIDANCE IS IN GOOD
AGREEMENT THAT ISAAC SHOULD MOVED NORTHWESTWARD FOR THE NEXT 72
HR…STEERED BY THE SUBTROPICAL RIDGE OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC
TOWARD A WEAKNESS IN THE RIDGE OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES.
THIS PART OF THE NEW FORECAST TRACK IS SHIFTED A LITTLE TO THE LEFT
OF THE PREVIOUS TRACK BASED ON THE INITIAL POSITION…AND LIES NEAR
THE CONSENSUS MODELS. AFTER 72 HR…THE SPREAD OF THE TRACK
GUIDANCE INCREASES DUE TO MODEL DISAGREEMENT ON THE EVOLUTION OF A
TROUGH OVER THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. THE ECMWF KEEPS MORE RIDGE
BETWEEN ISAAC AND THE TROUGH…WHICH RESULTS IN A NORTHWESTWARD
MOTION THROUGH DAY 5. THE GFS HAS A STRONGER TROUGH…WHICH
RESULTS IN A MORE NORTHWARD MOTION. THE GUIDANCE ENVELOPE HAS
SHIFTED A LITTLE EASTWARD AFTER 72 HR…AND THUS THE LATTER PORTION
OF THE NEW FORECAST TRACK IS ALSO ADJUSTED EASTWARD.
WHILE THE ORGANIZATION HAS IMPROVED…THE STRUCTURE OF ISAAC STILL
DOES NOT FAVOR RAPID INTENSIFICATION DESPITE A VERY FAVORABLE
UPPER-LEVEL WIND PATTERN. THE EARLY PART OF THE INTENSITY FORECAST
SHOWS A LITTLE MORE STRENGTHENING THAN EARLIER…AND IT IS POSSIBLE
THAT ISAAC COULD BE NEAR HURRICANE STRENGTH WHEN IT REACHES
HISPANIOLA. LAND INTERACTION WILL LIMIT THE INTENSITY FROM 24-48
HR…AND THIS PART OF THE FORECAST MAY NEED SOME ADJUSTMENT AFTER
IT IS SEEN WHAT STRUCTURE ISAAC HAS AFTER CROSSING HISPANIOLA.
ISAAC SHOULD STRENGTHEN OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO…WITH THE FORECAST
SHOWING THE CYCLONE BECOMING A HURRICANE BEFORE REACHING THE
NORTHERN GULF COAST.
IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO FOCUS ON THE EXACT TRACK DUE TO THE
UNCERTAINTIES IN THE FORECAST AND THE FACT THAT ISAAC HAS A LARGE
AREA OF TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
