Tropical Storm Isaac- Florida Keys & Key West, Florida- August 26 2012

Isaac formed from a tropical wave that emerged off the west coast of Africa, and tracked west-northwest across the Atlantic. On August 21st 2012, the tropical wave became tropical depression nine about 715mi east of the Lesser Antilles, and later that day the depression strengthened into tropical storm Isaac. Isaac continued moving towards the west and west-northwest entering the Caribbean Sea, and finally the system turned more northwest on August 24th just south of Hispaniola. As the system was moving northwest, it crossed the south coast of Haiti with maximum sustained winds of 70mph and a pressure of 990mb. The storm produced a tremendous amount of rain to Haiti, which caused life threatening flash floods and mudslides. During the early morning hours of August 25th, Isaac emerged into the Windward Passage while still moving northwest and was very close to eastern Cuba.

On Sunday August 26th, Isaac was moving northwest and west northwest while expected to be very close to the Florida Keys. During that morning, storm chasers Derek Sibley, Jim Leonard, and Jim Williams, headed south to the Keys very quickly, as Isaac was moving at a fast pace at 18mph. As the chasers were entering the Keys they encountered strong rain bands, with each band stronger than the previous one as they continued heading south. During the late morning hours, the chasers arrived in Key West, Florida and settled there. During 2:16-3:29 in the video, the piece of the developing northern eye wall came right across our location. The center was close by as well, the storm at this point had winds of 65mph and a pressure of 995mb, at our location we measured 20-30mph winds with gusts to 40-50mph with our anemometer, and a pressure of 999mb, with at one time was down to 998mb using Jim Leonard's barometer. Nearing the late afternoon hours, the storm continued moving west-northwest and was beginning to enter the Gulf Of Mexico, at this point, weather conditions across the Florida Keys was beginning to improve. During 4:27-4:52 in the video, the chasers were on their way back home, but saw some waves generated by the storm splashing over the road at times.

During the evening hours of August 26th, Isaac emerged into the southeastern Gulf Of Mexico while still moving west-northwest. The system turned northwest on August 27th while strengthening and was heading in the direction of southeastern Louisiana. During the early morning hours of August 29th, Isaac made landfall in southeastern Louisiana as a hurricane with 80mph winds and a pressure of 969mb.

Видео Tropical Storm Isaac- Florida Keys & Key West, Florida- August 26 2012 канала Derek Sibley