Sept. 12, 2003 — The NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla., reports that at 5 p.m. EDT the center of Hurricane Isabel was located near latitude 21.8 north, longitude 58.6 west or about 350 miles northeast of the northern Leeward Islands. Isabel is moving toward the west near 9 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours. (Click NOAA close-up satellite image for larger view of the eye of Hurricane Isabel taken on Sept. 12, 2003, at 1:15 p.m. EDT. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Reports from Air Force Reserve and NOAA hurricane hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds are near 160 mph with higher gusts. This makes Isabel a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. Fluctuations in intensity are common in major hurricanes and are likely during the next 24 hours. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of very dangerous Hurricane Isabel along with a weather system in the middle of the United States moving east, as well as the remnants of what was Tropical Storm Henri still lingering in the Eastern seaboard, taken on Sept. 12, 2003, at 2:45 p.m. EDT. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 85 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 185 miles. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of very dangerous Hurricane Isabel and its proximity to the northern Leeward Islands taken on Sept. 12, 2003, at 1:15 p.m. EDT. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

The latest minimum central pressure reported by the hurricane hunters is 920 mb, 27.17 inches.

(Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of very dangerous Hurricane Isabel and its proximity to the USA coastline taken on Sept. 12, 2003, at 1:15 p.m. EDT. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Large ocean swells and dangerous surf conditions are likely over portions of the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico over the next several days. (Click NOAA tracking map of Hurricane Isabel for larger view.)

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

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Relevant Web Sites
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NOAA Atlantic Hurricanes Database — 150 Years of Atlantic Hurricanes

NOAA Forecasters Say Six to Nine Hurricanes Could Threaten in 2003

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Frank Lepore, NOAA Hurricane Center, (305) 229-4404