Isaac becomes a Category 1 Hurricane

Major flooding hit South Florida on Monday from Tropical Storm Isaac, including Fort Myers Beach above.

11:20am Update: Isaac is now a hurricane with 75mph winds.

At this point, with tropical storm Isaac about 200 miles south of the Mississippi coast, whether the storm becomes a hurricane or not is really not important. What is important is that we have a large storm with a significant storm surge and lots of rainfall approaching the coast. Preparations and evacuations should be completed early this morning. Isaac is still forecast to reach hurricane strength before moving onshore late today or in the wee hours of Wednesday. The storm has continued to remain just below hurricane status with 70mph winds. The center is expected to slow from the current speed of 12mph and strengthen before landfall. The big concern right now is with the water component of this storm. A Gulf of Mexico surge of 6 to 12 feet is expected along the low shorelines of Mississippi and southeast Louisiana. It was 7 years ago this week that Katrina hit the same area with devastating flooding and over 1800 deaths. Since then billions has been spent on the levees and pumps protecting New Orleans, this will be a test of that system. Once inland flooding is forecast from 10 to 20 inches (250-500mm)  of rain that will deluge the region from the deep south into the Midwest.  Yesterday squalls from Isaac pounded south Florida with 6 to 12 inches (150-300mm) of rain and heavy flooding. Roads and homes were inundated. Isolated tornadoes were also reported and can be expected as Isaac makes landfall this evening.

Looking well ahead into Labor Day weekend, some computer models have rain from Isaac approaching New England and southern Quebec. At this time it is way too far out to predict. We may continue to be protected by strong high pressure that has been steering the storm west into the Gulf and away frown the east coast.

MONTREAL: Yesterday the city had another warm day with the high reaching 28C (83F) before clouds and just a splash of rain occurred. It was not nearly enough to get us out of what has been a dry summer and  especially the month of August. Montreal has recorded less than 50mm of rain for the month, most of that falling in two separate thunderstorms in less than one hour each. The balance is spread across minor events of 1 or 2mm. The lack of rain has left water levels dangerously low, watering bans in effect, and trees and lawns dying.