ISIDORE MOVING FARTHER INLAND AND BEGINNING TO WEAKEN

(See NOAA's National Hurricane Center for the latest information on this storm. Complete advisories are posted at 11 a.m., 5 p.m., 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. All times are Eastern. Advisories are posted more frequently as the storm nears the USA mainland.)

September 26, 2002 — At 11 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Isidore was located near latitude 30.7 north, longitude 89.7 west or just west of Poplarville, Miss. This is also about 60 miles north-northeast of New Orleans, La. Isidore is moving toward the north-northeast near 14 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue with an increase in forward speed during the next 24 hours. This motion will bring the center across southeastern Mississippi Thursday, according to the NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Tropical Storm Isidore taken at 10:15 a.m. EDT on Sept. 26, 2002. Click here to see latest view. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 60 mph with higher gusts mainly over the Gulf of Mexico southeast of the center. Additional weakening is forecast during the next 24 hours.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 345 miles mainly to the southeast of the center. NOAA buoy 42007 recently reported sustained winds of 46 mph with a gust to 63 mph.

Estimated minimum central pressure is 985 mb, 29.09 inches. Several stations in the New Orleans area have reported pressures near 985 mb during the past three hours. Additional rainfall of 5 to 10 inches is possible across portions of the lower Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio valleys, and eastern Gulf Coast. These rains could cause life-threatening floods. Heavy rains in southeastern Louisiana should diminish Thursday. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Tropical Storm Isidore taken at 8:15 a.m. EDT on Sept. 26, 2002.)

Coastal storm surge flooding of 3 to 6 feet above normal tide levels with higher levels in bays, along with battering waves, is occurring within the tropical storm warning area to the east of the center and in Lake Pontchartrain. These tides will begin to diminish later Thursday. Tornadoes are possible from central Mississippi to western Georgia, as well as the western Florida Panhandle.

Tropical storm warnings were discontinued west of Morgan City, La., as of 11 a.m. EDT. A tropical storm warning remains in effect from Morgan City, La., to St. Marks, Fla.

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's Tides Online

NOAA Satellite Images — The latest satellite views

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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