The National Hurricane Center said Isaias had 105 mph winds at 10 p.m. CDT and could briefly become a major hurricane early Friday before approaching the northern Gulf Coast.
Hurricane Isaias strengthened further late Thursday. In advisory number 10, issued at 10 p.m. CDT, the National Hurricane Center said maximum sustained winds had increased to near 105 mph, or 165 km/h, with higher gusts. That is 5 mph above the 100 mph reading in the 7 p.m. intermediate advisory.
The center was near latitude 25.4 north, longitude 88.4 west, about 260 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River and about 295 miles north-northeast of Progreso, Mexico. Isaias was moving northeast at 14 mph. The minimum central pressure was 969 millibars, or 28.62 inches.
Forecasters said Isaias could briefly become a major hurricane early Friday. They also said some weakening was expected after that, while the storm remained a dangerous hurricane as it approached the northern Gulf Coast late Friday. Landfall was still expected inside the warning area late Friday or early Saturday.
A storm-surge warning remained in effect from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Suwannee River. A hurricane warning covered Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Bay and Gulf county line in Florida. A tropical storm warning ran from the Jefferson and Plaquemines parish line in Louisiana to west of Ocean Springs.
The 105 mph figure is the 10 p.m. CDT observation, not a landfall intensity. The center did not change the warning geography in this advisory.
People Sentiments Negative
- The National Hurricane Center said Isaias could briefly become a major hurricane early Friday and would remain dangerous at the northern Gulf Coast.