HURRICANE ISAAC
We’re just waiting to see which way Isaac heads. All forecast show that the FOM Mission will not be too hard hit but will receive plenty of rain and some winds much like Debbi.
Tropical Storm Isaac has the U.S. Gulf Coast on alert, as forecasters say it will become Hurricane Isaac 2012 on Sunday, cutting a path toward Alabama, Mississippi, and the panhandle of Florida.
The latest forecast update Saturday suggests strong likelihood that Hurricane Isaac will make a direct hit somewhere along the Mississippi, Alabama, Florida panhandle borders early Wednesday morning. The storm is forecast to strike at category 1 strength, or possibly higher, with winds of about 80 miles per hour or more. Storm surge and flooding will be among the biggest concerns.
The National Hurricane Center said in the latest update Saturday that Isaac is moving west-northwest to northwest currently. That motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days with some increase in forward speed.
"The center of Isaac will move near or over eastern Cuba today ... and move near the north coast of Cuba tonight and approach the Florida Keys on Sunday."
Forecasters have not ruled out that Isaac could intensify just before making land along the Gulf Coast into a category 2 or category 3 storm.
Already, hurricane warnings have been issued for South Florida, as Tropical Storm Isaac's track moves nearer to the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico where it is expected to strengthen, moving north-northwest before ultimately turning north onto land mid-next week.