5am, Wednesday, 8/29/12 Summary:

Hurricane Isaac made landfall twice in Louisiana overnight.

At 7:45pm ET Tues. in Plaquemines Parrish just southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River, emerging back over water while moving west, and at 3:15am ET Wed. just west of Port Fourchon with maximum sustained winds near 80mph.

At 5am EDT Wednesday, Hurricane Isaac was located 60 miles south-southwest of New Orleans, Louisiana, which is approximately 215 miles west-southwest of Pensacola, Florida.

Isaac is moving west-northwest around 8 mph. A northwest motion at a slower forward speed is expected today, followed by a turn to the north-northwest on Thursday, reaching southern Arkansas by Friday.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 80 mph, which is a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Isaac remains a large storm, and tropical storm force winds extend as far as 175 miles from the center.

Isaac is expected to weaken today as it moves further inland over Louisiana. Isaac is forecast to become a tropical storm this evening and a depression by Thursday afternoon.

Tropical Depression #11 was upgraded to Tropical Storm Kirk at 11pm Tuesday.  At 5am Wednesday, Tropical Storm Kirk was located about 1220 miles east-northeast of the Leeward Islands, which is approximately 2180 miles east of Miami, Florida.

TS Kirk is moving west-northwest at 9mph and maximum sustained winds are near 45mph.

A turn to the northwest is expected during the next few days and should curve northward on Friday.

During this time, Kirk could intensify into a hurricane within the next 72-96 hours.

A tropical wave and associated area of low pressure in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, classified as invest area 98L, is gradually becoming better organized.

The National Hurricane Center is now forecasting a medium (40%) chance of becoming a tropical cyclone within the next 48 hours.

Additional computer model runs will be available later today, but 98L is forecast to move generally west-northwest through the next 5 days while strengthening.  The next name on the 2012 storm list is Leslie.

Florida outlook:

Warnings Issued for Florida:

Tropical Storm Warning – Destin to FL/AL border.  This includes the counties of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa.

The large nature of Isaac could still produce tropical storm force wind gusts in rainbands over portions of Northwest Florida today.

Lingering ocean swells will continue to produce large battering waves along the Gulf Coast today, along with a high risk of rip currents.  A Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect from Jefferson County to Bay County, with a High Surf Advisory from Walton County to Gulf County, and from Pinellas County to Lee County.

1-3 inches of rain will be possible over much of Northwest Florida today and tomorrow.  Total rainfall accumulations may reach up to 6 inches in the western Panhandle and up to 4 inches eastward.  Gusty winds will be capable of knocking down trees in saturated ground.

Additional rainfall up to 2 inches is possible over the Peninsula for the next 2 days as a typical summertime pattern brings the potential for heavy afternoon showers and thunderstorms.

A Tornado Watch is in effect until 7am CDT for Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties.  Isolated tornadoes are possible today.

Tropical Storm Kirk is not a threat to any U.S. landmass.  It is too early to tell if 98L will be a threat to the U.S.

More information on Hurricane Isaac, Tropical Storm Kirk and 98L can be found at www.nhc.noaa.gov.

Click here to view storm related graphics and images.  Another update will be issued Wednesday afternoon.

Amy Godsey
State Meteorologist
State Watch Officer
Florida Division of Emergency Management
www.FloridaDisaster.org
www.KidsGetAPlan.com
www.FloridaEvacuates.com

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