In its most recent weather advisory, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) announced that heavy rains and flooding are affecting the Florida Gulf Coast and that there is a significant storm surge threat expected for the northern Gulf Coast.
As of 1:00pm CDT, Tropical Storm Isaac was tracked at 255 miles SSW of Apalachicola, FL and 280 miles SE of the mouth of the Mississippi River. The storm is moving at 14 m.p.h. with maximum sustained winds of 65 m.p.h. While the pace of this storm is expected to gradually decrease, officials warn that it will likely strengthen over the next 48 hours. The storm surge is expected to cause major flooding: Southeast Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama could see peak surges of 6-12 feet. South-Central Louisiana and the Florida panhandle will see peak surges of 3-6 feet and the west coast of Florida (including the Apalachee Bay) will see surges of 1-3 feet.
"As Tropical Storm Isaac continues towards Florida and the Gulf States, local residents need to monitor storm conditions and follow the direction of local officials," FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate said in a statement. "FEMA and its federal partners remain in close coordination...teams have been deployed to Florida and states along the Gulf Coast to provide support as needed, and additional teams have been placed on alert."
A hurricane warning has been put into effect for areas east of Morgan City, LA to Destin, FL, including metropolitan New Orleans. A hurricane watch is in effect from Intracoastal City, LA to Morgan City, LA. A tropical storm warning is in effect for areas east of Destin, FL to the Aucilla River and for Intracoastal City to Morgan City, LA. Lastly, a tropical storm watch is in effect east of Sabine Pass to west of Intracoastal City, LA.
The center of Tropical Storm Isaac will move over the eastern Gulf of Mexico today and approach the Northern Gulf Coast in the hurricane warning area on Tuesday. Isaac is expected to become a hurricane before reaching the northern Gulf Coast.
Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. of Jackson, MS urged citizens to prepare for weather related to Tropical Storm Isaac, as forecasts warn of heavy rain and strong wind gusts for the city.
"We will continue to monitor the situation and we are prepared to deploy the necessary City resources if and when they are needed," Johnson said in a statement.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal encouraged residents to stock up on food, water and other supplies as 20 Louisiana parishes are under a hurricane warning and 23 parishes have declared a state of emergency. Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, Florida Gov. Rick Scott and Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley have also declared states of emergency.
"The weather will start going downhill overnight tonight on the northern Gulf Coast," Rick Knabb, director of the NHC said during a conference call for reporters today. "Wherever it is that people are going to be during the storm, they need to get there tonight."
Isaac killed at least 20 people and caused significant flooding and damage in Haiti and the Dominican Republic before skirting the southern tip of Florida on Sunday, according to reports from Reuters.