Well, bless us, the circulation center on this thing has FINALLY closed and we official have Tropical Storm Isaias. Winds at 50 miles per hour and not forecast to increase.
The forecast path, which previously shifted to the west, now has shifted significantly to the right, taking the storm up the east coast of Florida.
I think the fact that the circulation center finally closed may account for the dramatic shift, as the models are not really designed to calculate the movement of an open trough, but a low pressure center. We should get more consistency on the models going forward.
Looks like this may actually go ashore between Miami and West Palm Beach, than skate up the Florida interior coastline, crossing back out to sea in North Brevard or Volusia Counties.
Josephine and Kyle are wandering about the Atlantic.
We might repeat 2005 and have to resort to the Greek Alphabet. The six bolded names were used in 2005. If necessary, the Greek Alphabet would be used again and in the same order.
The storm will landfall late tonight, possibly as a Category 5 as it is still intensifying. Coastal areas are already experience storm surge and tropical storm force winds.
Paulette which just formed is the earliest named “P” storm.
We also have our earliest 18th Depression which likely will soon become a named storm.
At this time, the numbers are 18 Depressions, 16 Storms, 5 Hurricanes, 1 Major Hurricane.
The remaining season names are:
Rene
Sally
Teddy
Vicky
Wilfred
After that, we go to the Greek letter names that I previously posted. Tropical Depression 18 will likely become Tropical Storm Rene today.
At the moment, the only thing that is an imminent threat to the United States mainland is the disturbance just off the east coast of the United States, which will likely reach the Carolinas as a non tropical system. Paulette and 18/Rene will likely turn and head to the northern Atlantic.
It’s odd but living in SW Florida the majority of my life, I don’t get all that worked up over hurricanes. I’m more annoyed by power outages and disruptions.
My brother and sister have both lived for years in east central Florida along the coast. They would probably agree with you. No major wind damage from storms, it is the power failures that suck.
