ISIDORE NEARING HURRICANE STRENGTH

September 19, 2002 — At 11 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Isidore was located near latitude 20.0 north, longitude 81.2 west or about 160 miles southeast of the Isle of Youth. Isidore is moving erratically but generally toward the west-northwest near 8 mph. A west-northwest or northwest motion is expected over the next 24 hours. On this track, Isidore will be very near the Isle of Youth Thursday night, according to the NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Tropical Storm Isidore taken at 10:45 a.m. EDT on Sept. 19, 2002. Click here to see latest view. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph with higher gusts. Isidore is expected to become a hurricane later Thursday. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles from the center. Estimated minimum central pressure is 990 mb, 29.23 inches.

Extremely heavy rainfall amounts—up to 20 to 30 inches—can be expected over portions of western Cuba over the next two to three days. Rains should diminish over Jamaica later Thursday.

A hurricane warning remains in effect for central and western Cuba for the provinces of Cienfuegos, Villa Clara, Matanzas, Ciudad de La Habana, La Habana and Pinar del Rio, including the Isle of Youth. A hurricane watch remains in effect for Sancti-Spiritus and Ciego de Avila. A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the Cayman Islands. A tropical storm watch or warning may be required for the lower Florida Keys later Thursday.

For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by NOAA National Weather Service local forecast offices.

Click NOAA tracking map for larger view.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA's National Hurricane Center — Get the latest advisories here

NOAA's Atlantic Hurricanes Database — 150 Years of Atlantic Hurricanes

El Niño Expected to Impact Atlantic Hurricane Season, NOAA Reports

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

NOAA's River Forecast Centers

NOAA's Flood Products

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Latest rainfall data as of 8 a.m. EDT today

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NOAA's Hurricanes Page

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Media Contact:
Frank Lepore, NOAA's National Hurricane Center, (305) 229-4404