CORPUS CHRISTI (Kiii News) -
Tropical Storm Isaac has made it through the Straits of Florida and is now in the Gulf of Eastern Gulf of Mexico. Isaac will likely reach hurricane status today as it moves into an environment favorable for intensification.
The latest track from the National Hurricane Center has Isaac making landfall in SE Louisiana, Wednesday morning as a Category 1 storm (winds between 74-95mph). New Orleans is the nearest major city to the estimated landfall. Isaac will be a slow moving and very large hurricane. Its effects will be felt not only where the center of the storm makes landfall, but for a wide region of the northern gulf coast. Storm surge will likely be 6-12 ft. for many places between Louisiana and the Florida Panhandle. Many places in that region are at or below sea level. Because of the slow moving nature of Isaac, inland flooding will be problematic as well.
For the Coastal Bend, Isaac will not pose a direct threat, although indirect threats will include:
- Higher than normal tides
- Bigger than normal waves
- Increased risk for rip currents
- Hot temperatures
