ISIDORE DRIFTING WESTWARD IN THE GULF OF MEXICO

September 21, 2002 — At 11 p.m. EDT, the eye of Hurricane Isidore was located near latitude 22.2 north, longitude 86.7 west or about 45 miles north-northeast of Cabo Catoche on the northeast tip of the Yucatan peninsula. Isidore is moving toward the west near 6 mph, and this motion is expected to continue during the next 24 hours. On this track, the eye of Isidore is expected to remain just north of the northern coast of the Yucatan peninsula. However, strong winds on the south side of the eye will likely affect northern Yucatan during the next 24 hours, but just a slight deviation to the south would bring the core of the hurricane and the most intense winds onshore, according to the NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Isidore taken at 11:15 p.m. EDT on Sept. 21, 2002. Click here to see latest view. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Maximum sustained winds remain near 125 mph with higher gusts. Some fluctuations in intensity are likely during the next 24 hours. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 200 miles. (Click NOAA radar image for larger view of Hurricane Isidore's eye taken at 6:12 p.m. EDT on Sept. 21, 2002. This radar composite image is from the NOAA P-3 Orion "hurricane hunter" aircraft, which flew a mission into Hurricane Isidore on Sept. 21, 2002. Click here for high resolution version.)

Estimated minimum central pressure is 946 mb, 27.94 inches. Although the center of Isidore is moving away from Cuba, additional heavy rainfall amounts of 10 to 15 inches are still possible over portions of western Cuba and the Isle of Youth. Heavy rainfall will also affect the northern portion of the Yucatan peninsula. Coastal storm surge flooding along the southwest coast of Cuba, along with large and dangerous battering waves, will gradually diminish. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Isidore taken at 6:15 p.m. EDT on Sept. 21, 2002.)

A hurricane warning is in effect along the north and east coasts of the Yucatan peninsula from Tulum to Progresso, including the island of Cozumel. A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the western Cuban province of Pinar del Rio, including the Isle of Youth.

For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by NOAA National Weather Service local forecast offices.

Click NOAA tracking map for larger view.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA's National Hurricane Center — Get the latest advisories here

NOAA's Atlantic Hurricanes Database — 150 Years of Atlantic Hurricanes

El Niño Expected to Impact Atlantic Hurricane Season, NOAA Reports

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

NOAA's River Forecast Centers

NOAA's Flood Products

NOAA Rainfall Graphics
24-hour Observed Precipitation as of 8 a.m. today

Latest rainfall data as of 8 a.m. EDT today

NOAA Buoys

NOAA Satellite Images — The latest satellite views

Colorized Satellite Images

NOAA 3-D Satellite Images

NOAA's Hurricanes Page

NOAA's Storm Watch — Get the latest severe weather information across the USA

Media Contact:
Frank Lepore, NOAA's National Hurricane Center, (305) 229-4404
(Radar image courtesy of Sean McMillan, systems crew chief aboard NOAA-42 P-3 "hurricane hunter" aircraft.)

The responsibilities of Systems Crew Chief are to plan, coordinate, document, install and upgrade the aircraft scientific systems, as well as to network the onboard computers systems with those of other scientific organizations.

These computer systems are interconnected using a variety of network protocols. i.e. Ethernet, serial RS-232, RS-422, TCP/IP. Once the aircraft systems are installed and configured, he is responsible for their operation, maintenance and repair.