The National Hurricane Center's 2:05 EDT weather report indicates that Isaac is currently located inland over Southeastern Louisiana, slowly heading northwest at a speed of 6 mph with maximum sustained wind speeds at 75 mph. The hurricane is creating a dangerous storm surge with gusts of 92 mph.
Isaac is speeding down as it passes over Louisiana, which is not as optimistic as it sounds. "The models show [Isaac's] forward speed slowing down, and that's not good," said Rick Knabb, the Director of the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami Rick.
"When a large system moves slowly, that means a lot of rainfall," he added.
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu repeated Knabb's sentiment, stating: "The thing that concerns us about this storm is that the fact that is it's going so slow...and that it could hover over the city for a long period of time."
The NHC reports that heavy squalls continue to "lash" New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf coast. A squall is a sudden, steep increase in wind speed.
According to the energy company Entergy, about 520,000 people have lost power in Louisiana and should prepare for "extended power outages." On its official site, Entergy explains that "continued high winds, floodwaters and other hazards are preventing restoration workers from restoring electrical service to our customers. We are using the time to sharpen our plans and process donor crews so that we can start restoring your service."
"Please remain safe and stay away from downed power lines and flooded areas. Do not walk in standing water and do not venture into areas of debris, since energized and dangerous power lines may not be visible," the company advises.
The NHC has discontinued the tropical storm warning for the east side of the Alabama-Florida border.
A tropical storm warning was put in effect for the east of High Island, Texas to west of Sabine Pass.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for the east of the Mississippi-Alabama border to the Alabama-Florida border, and for Morgan City to Sabine Pass, Texas.
A hurricane watch is in effect for Intracoastal City to Morgan City, Louisiana.
Lastly, a hurricane warning is in effect for east of Morgan City, Louisiana to the Mississippi-Alabama border, which includes Metropolitan New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain, and Lake Maurepas.
The NHC affirms that stormy conditions will remain across most of the north-east and north-central Gulf for the next twenty-four hours.
Update Maps, August 29 - 1:00 p.m. EDT
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