Isaac Is Now A Hurricane; Helene Gains Strength

Both Isaac and Helene are now hurricanes, according to the National Hurricane Center (N.H.C.). Isaac is headed directly towards the Leeward islands, while the N.H.C. is expecting Hurricane Helene to shift north beginning Wednesday without affecting the Caribbean.

Yet even with Helene’s eventual northward projection, the public is advised to continue monitoring the storms as projections could shift at anytime.

Hurricane Isaac

The National Hurricane Center’s 5:00 a.m. advisory placed Hurricane Isaac’s center at near latitude 14.7 North and longitude 42.7 West. Isaac is moving toward the west near 13 mph (20 km/h). A westward motion with a slight increase in forward speed is forecast through the end of the week. On the forecast track, Isaac is forecast to move across the Lesser Antilles and into the eastern Caribbean Sea on Thursday.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds remain near 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is expected over the next day or two. Weakening is forecast to begin by the middle of the week as Isaac approaches the Lesser Antilles, N.H.C. said.

N.H.C. said Isaac is a small hurricane. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 10 miles (20 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km).

The estimated minimum central pressure is 993 mb (29.33 inches).

Hurricane Helene

According to the N.H.C.’s 5:00 a.m. advisory, the center of Hurricane Helene was located near latitude 14.3 North, longitude 28.9 West. Helene is moving toward the west-northwest near 17 mph (28 km/h) and this motion is expected to continue for another couple of days. A turn to the northwest is forecast to occur on Wednesday.

The hurricane’s maximum sustained winds are near 85 mph (140 km/h) with higher gusts. Helene’s expected to resume strengthening today. Afterward, weakening is forecast to commence Wednesday morning.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km).

The estimated minimum central pressure is 984 mb (29.06 inches).