Hurricane Watch Issued for Florida Panhandle as Isaias Strengthens in the Gulf

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued a Hurricane Watch on Wednesday, October 7, for the northern Gulf Coast from Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, to Indian Pass, Florida. A Storm Surge Watch runs from the mouth of the Mississippi River east to Yankeetown, Florida, and a Tropical Storm Watch covers east of Indian Pass to the Aucilla River, Florida, along with the Jefferson/Plaquemines Parish line, Louisiana, to west of Bay St. Louis.

In its 10 AM CDT (11 AM EDT) advisory, NHC placed Tropical Storm Isaias about 260 miles west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds near 45 mph, moving east-northeast at 8 mph. NHC expects rapid strengthening and says Isaias should become a strong hurricane before approaching the northern Gulf Coast on Friday. Tropical storm conditions could begin in the watch areas midday Friday, and hurricane conditions late Friday. NHC's surge forecast calls for 5 to 7 feet from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to Indian Pass, Florida, and 2 to 4 feet from the Aucilla River to Yankeetown if the peak surge arrives at high tide.

NHC forecasts 3 to 6 inches of rain, with local totals up to 10 inches, from far southeastern Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle Friday through the weekend, and 1 to 3 inches, locally up to 5, across much of the Southeast, with flash, urban, and isolated river flooding possible. Polk County is not in a watch area as of this advisory, but NHC says more watches and warnings could be needed later today. Follow NHC and your local National Weather Service office for updates.

If storm water gets into your home in Lakeland or anywhere in Polk County, Florida Restoration Specialists does water extraction and drying. Call (863) 588-6617.

Sources: NHC Tropical Storm Isaias Public Advisory #4, NHC Tropical Storm Isaias Discussion #4, National Hurricane Center.