Hurricane Watch extended further West towards Morgan City Louisiana just shortly before midday today. The hurricane watch now includes the city of New Orleans. Most reliable computer models are indicating a westerly trend this morning. The national hurricane center describes this as very problematic. That's because 36hrs out the model spread becomes too wide for an accurate landfall forecast. The cone of uncertainty is just that . . .very uncertain still today.
Latest satellite loops do show the classic symmetrical banding pattern we typically see with strengthening tropical storms or weak hurricanes. Thunderstorms are also flaring up near the center of circulation pointing towards continued growth. Bouy reports near Key West Florida also show winds picking up steadily just before midday.
Here's the latest from the National Hurricane Center. . .
SUMMARY OF 1100 AM EDT...1500 UTC...INFORMATION ----------------------------------------------- LOCATION...23.9N 80.8W ABOUT 80 MI...130 KM SE OF KEY WEST FLORIDA ABOUT 110 MI...180 KM ENE OF HAVANA CUBA MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...65 MPH...100 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 300 DEGREES AT 18 MPH...30 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...995 MB...29.38 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY... THE HURRICANE WATCH FOR THE FLORIDA EAST COAST FROM GOLDEN BEACH SOUTHWARD TO OCEAN REEF IS DISCONTINUED. THE HURRICANE WATCH IS EXTENDED WESTWARD ALONG THE LOUISIANA COAST TO JUST EAST OF MORGAN CITY...INCLUDING METROPOLITAN NEW ORLEANS AND LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN.
