While the outer bands of Isaac have been sweeping up through South and even Central Florida throughout today with wind gusts to 60 mph across Miami along with torrential downpours, the centre of circulation is just about on Key West. Pressure is now at 994mb so it’s barely strengthening though it’s highly likely that over the next 12 to 18 hours as this storm continues to push WNW out into the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico that we’ll see Isaac become a hurricane.

Below is the threat level index, courtesy of The Weather Channel and you can see the highest immediate threat over the Keys and along western Florida.

Notice the surge threat below. The higher surge of 4-6 feet is likely along the Southwest coast from just north of Naples all the way down along the south coast to the top of the Keys and even higher (4-7 feet) is expected north of Tampa all the way up to Appalachicola. Tampa Bay doesn’t look to be under as much threat as previously though as Isaac may take a further west track. That of course does mean that New Orleans across to Mobile Bay is under the gun moreso than previously thought.

Courtesy of ajp42109

Tags: hurricane isaac, tropical storm isaac, tropical storm isaac 2012