Last Tuesday when NHC first began highlighting an area down over the SW Gulf, I showed you a map of Hurricane Opal back in October 1995. Hurricane Isaias followed nearly the same track, but he was not quite as strong as Opal. Opal reached a Cat. 4 weakening to a marginal Cat. 3 at landfall. Isaias reached a Cat. 3 weakening to a strong Cat. 2 at landfall. Let's compare tracks, beginning with Opal.
Now compare that to Isaias' track.
Isaias' landfall was 44 miles east of Opal's meaning less impacts for Gulf Shores, Orange Beach & Pensacola Beach and greater impacts for Navarre, Ft. Walton, Destin to Panama City. Over the coming days, we'll find out how bad the beach erosion was east of landfall. Isaias was a really strange storm. For instance, the worse side of a typical hurricane is to the right/east of the centerline. Look at the radar view shortly before landfall.
Note the lightning WNW of the center and the heaviest rain bands on the north side.
Once the eye/center moved inland, the rains ended as the southern Eyewall had little rain but still strong winds. The strong SW wind shear was there along the coast, but it had little impact on Isaias since fast forward motion of the storm (NE) negated/lessened the upper wind shear.
She was still very symmetrical nearing landfall. Isaias also ended the streak of no hurricane in the Gulf or Caribbean in October during strong El Nino years.
As what's left of the storm, now heading into Tennessee, should continue to bring us dry air and pleasant temps on Sunday.
Note all the warm air to our west and north. This next week will still feel very summer-like.
Finally, our first REAL cold front arrives next Saturday bringing us sweater & jacket weather. Perhaps it's time for the Fat Lady to sing? Stay tuned!
