by Mario Gomez
khou.com
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 11:29 AM
Updated today at 1:00 PM
Hurricane Watch extended further West towards Morgan City Louisiana just shortly before midday today. The hurricane watch now includes the city of New Orleans. Most reliable computer models are indicating a westerly trend this morning. The national hurricane center describes this as very problematic. That's because 36hrs out the model spread becomes too wide for an accurate landfall forecast. The cone of uncertainty is just that . . .very uncertain still today.
Latest satellite loops do show the classic symmetrical banding pattern we typically see with strengthening tropical storms or weak hurricanes. Thunderstorms are also flaring up near the center of circulation pointing towards continued growth. Bouy reports near Key West Florida also show winds picking up steadily just before midday.
Here's the latest from the National Hurricane Center. . .
SUMMARY OF 1100 AM EDT...1500 UTC...INFORMATION-----------------------------------------------LOCATION...23.9N 80.8WABOUT 80 MI...130 KM SE OF KEY WEST FLORIDAABOUT 110 MI...180 KM ENE OF HAVANA CUBAMAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...65 MPH...100 KM/HPRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 300 DEGREES AT 18 MPH...30 KM/HMINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...995 MB...29.38 INCHESWATCHES AND WARNINGS--------------------CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY...THE HURRICANE WATCH FOR THE FLORIDA EAST COAST FROM GOLDEN BEACHSOUTHWARD TO OCEAN REEF IS DISCONTINUED.THE HURRICANE WATCH IS EXTENDED WESTWARD ALONG THE LOUISIANA COASTTO JUST EAST OF MORGAN CITY...INCLUDING METROPOLITAN NEW ORLEANSAND LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN.[h=5]Print[/h][h=5]Email[/h][h=5]|[/h]
