MERIDIAN, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed), Hurricane Isaias became a major hurricane Friday morning as it moved toward the northern Gulf Coast. Forecasters say tropical storm conditions could reach East Mississippi and West Alabama tonight.
At 7:20 a.m. Friday, the National Hurricane Center said a Hurricane Hunter plane found top sustained winds of 120 mph. That makes Isaias a Category 3 storm. Any hurricane at Category 3 or higher is called a major hurricane.
The storm strengthened quickly overnight. Its pressure dropped from 972 millibars at 1 a.m. to 959 millibars in the latest reading. When pressure falls, a storm is usually getting stronger.
The center was about 170 miles south southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River. It was also 240 miles south of Pensacola. Isaias was moving north northeast at 15 mph and should turn north later today.
Landfall is expected tonight or early Saturday. It should come ashore somewhere in the Hurricane Warning area, which runs from Ocean Springs to the Bay/Gulf County line in Florida. Forecasters say Isaias will still be a dangerous hurricane when it reaches the coast.
The storm is also getting bigger. Tropical storm force winds now reach up to 185 miles from the center. At 1 a.m., they reached 125 miles. Because the storm is so wide, people far inland will still feel it.
What It Means for the Mississippi Coast
The Hurricane Warning starts at Ocean Springs and runs east. West of Ocean Springs, including Biloxi and Gulfport, a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect. Storm surge of 3 to 5 feet is possible from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Dauphin Island. That stretch includes the Mississippi coast. If you have family on the coast, check on them today.
What to Expect Locally
The National Weather Service has raised its wind gust forecasts for much of our area since Thursday. Updated forecasts issued Friday morning call for:
- Meridian: Northeast winds of 20 to 25 mph tonight, with gusts up to 40 mph. Rain is almost certain after 9 p.m. One to 2 inches of rain is possible, with heavy downpours at times.
- Laurel: Gusts up to 40 mph tonight.
- Quitman area: Gusts up to 40 mph and 1 to 2 inches of rain tonight.
- Waynesboro: Northeast winds of 20 to 25 mph tonight, with gusts up to 45 mph.
- Philadelphia and Forest: Gusts up to 35 mph, with heavy rain at times.
- Livingston and Butler, Ala.: Tropical storm conditions are possible tonight, with 2 to 3 inches of rain.
Winds should stay gusty into Saturday, with gusts of 30 to 35 mph as the storm moves north. Most of the rain should end by midday Saturday.
Watches in Effect
A watch means dangerous weather is possible. A warning means it is expected. Watch for updates in case these change.
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for much of our coverage area. That includes Lauderdale, Neshoba, Kemper, Newton, Clarke, Jasper, Jones, Noxubee, Winston and Wayne counties in Mississippi. It also includes Sumter and Choctaw counties in Alabama.
A Flood Watch runs from 7 p.m. tonight until 7 p.m. Saturday for Lauderdale, Clarke and Winston counties, among others. In Sumter County, the Flood Watch lasts until 7 a.m. Sunday. In Choctaw County, it begins at 1 p.m. today.
As of early Friday, Scott, Smith, Leake and Attala counties were not under a watch. Heavy rain and gusty winds are still forecast there.
Along the Coast
The Hurricane Center raised its storm surge forecast Friday morning. It now calls for 6 to 9 feet from the Alabama/Florida line to Grayton Beach, Fla. Surge of 4 to 6 feet is forecast from Dauphin Island to the Alabama/Florida line, which includes Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Mobile Bay could see 3 to 5 feet. The tornado risk begins late this afternoon along coastal Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.
In Alabama, Gov. Kay Ivey has declared a state of emergency for 40 counties, including Sumter and Choctaw.
Be Prepared
Finish your storm preparations today.
- Bring in or tie down trash cans, patio furniture and other loose items.
- Charge your phones and fill your gas tank.
- Never drive through water on a road. Turn around and find another way.
- Check on elderly neighbors and anyone who lives alone.
Downed trees and power outages are possible tonight. If your power goes out, report it to your power company. If you use a generator, keep it outside and away from windows and doors.
The next full advisory from the National Hurricane Center is at 10 a.m. Queen City Newsfeed will continue to update this story.