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Record Gulf Heat Fuels Potential Hurricane Isaias
7 Oct
Summary
- Tropical Depression Nine is forecast to become Hurricane Isaias.
- The storm poses a flash flood risk to the Southeast on Friday/Saturday.
- Gulf water temperatures are at record highs, aiding storm development.
Tropical Depression Nine has formed in the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to rapidly intensify into the Atlantic's first hurricane of the season, named Isaias. Forecasters predict it will become a hurricane by Thursday and a Category 2 storm with 100 mph winds by Friday night. This rapid development is occurring as Gulf water temperatures have reached record highs since 1982, providing ample energy for the storm.
NOAA's Weather Prediction Center has issued a Level 2 out of 4 flash flood risk for portions of the Southeast for Friday and Saturday. The projected path indicates the storm will pass north of the Yucatan Peninsula on Thursday before approaching the U.S. northern Gulf Coast on Friday.
The primary areas facing impacts from Hurricane Isaias are expected to be Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and the Florida Panhandle. Hurricane Hunters are currently gathering data to refine severity predictions. Notably, September concluded without a hurricane for the first time in 32 years, despite being the season's peak.
