ISIDORE CONTINUING TO STRENGTHEN AND COULD BECOME A
CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE

September 21, 2002 — At 2 p.m. EDT, the center of major hurricane Isidore was located near latitude 21.9 north, longitude 86.1 west or about 60 miles east-northeast of Cabo Catoche on the northeast tip of the Yucatan peninsula. This is also about 75 miles west-northwest of Cabo San Antonio on the western tip of Cuba, according to the NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Isidore taken at 2:15 p.m. EDT on Sept. 21, 2002. Click here to see latest view. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Isidore has been nearly stationary, but a slow westward motion is expected to resume later Saturday afternoon and Saturday night. On this track, the eye of Isidore is expected to remain just north of the northern coast of the Yucatan peninsula. However, strong winds on the south side of the eye will likely begin to affect northern Yucatan by Saturday evening, and a slight deviation to the south would bring the eye and the most intense winds onshore. A hurricane hunter reconnaissance aircraft reports a second but much smaller eye to the east-southeast of primary eye.

Maximum sustained winds are near 120 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours, and Isidore could become a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale later Saturday night or early Sunday morning.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 175 miles. Estimated minimum central pressure is 947 mb, 29.96 inches.

Although the center of Isidore is moving away from Cuba, additional heavy rainfall amounts of 10 to 15 inches are still possible over portions of western Cuba and the Isle of Youth. Heavy rainfall will also begin to affect the northern portion of the Yucatan peninsula Saturday afternoon.

Coastal storm surge flooding along the south coast of Cuba, along with large and dangerous battering waves, are expected to gradually diminish Saturday. Coastal storm surge flooding as high as 4 to 8 feet above normal tide levels is expected to begin later Saturday along the north coast of the Yucatan peninsula.

A hurricane warning remains in effect along the north and east coasts of the Yucatan peninsula from Tulum to Progresso, including the island of Cozumel. A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the western Cuban province of Pinar del Rio, including the Isle of Youth.

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

NOAA Rainfall Graphics
24-hour Observed Precipitation as of 8 a.m. today

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

NOAA Buoys

NOAA Satellite Images — The latest satellite views

Colorized Satellite Images

NOAA 3-D Satellite Images

NOAA's Hurricanes Page

NOAA's Storm Watch — Get the latest severe weather information across the USA

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