Expected to reach hurricane strength Monday, coast by
Tuesday
Ports along the U.S. Gulf where shuttering as Tropical Storm Isaac began crossing the southeastern Gulf of Mexico Monday morning, with maximum sustained winds near 65 mph, the National Weather Service said.
The Louisiana Maritime Association in Metairie, La., reported from a Monday morning teleconference with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and others that landfall is expected to occur about 1 p.m. Tuesday at the mouth of the Mississippi River.
A National Hurricane Center 10 a.m. advisory placed Issac at about 310 miles from the mouth of Mississippi River, moving northwest with sustained winds of 65 mph. Isaac is expected to strengthen in the warmer Gulf waters and could reach hurricane strength by late Monday or early Tuesday. NOAA stressed the conditions could change and that close attention should be made until landfall, and the weather service issued a hurricane warning from east of Morgan City, La., to Destin, Fla.
NHC projects hurricane strength winds of 90 mph at landfall, reduced from previous forecasts of a Category 2 storm. The center warned of significant storm surge throughout the northern Gulf, rainfall of up to 18 inches are possible in southeastern Louisiana, southern Alabama, Mississippi and the western Florida panhandle.
Port officials in the Gulf have released the following updates:
New Orleans: Cargo terminals within the Port of New Orleans will cease operations by 5 p.m. today as port personnel and terminal operators finish storm preparations, including locking down cranes, ensuring key operations and security personnel are in place, removing potential hazards from wharves and securing all floating equipment.
The Associated Branch Pilots, which pilot ships through Southwest Pass at the mouth of the Mississippi River, ceased operations Sunday night and the Crescent River Port Pilots and the New Orleans Baton Rouge Pilot Association ceased moving vessels Monday morning, and closed the river to deep-draft traffic until the storm threat passes.
The Port of New Orleans Administration Building and cargo operations will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Six cargo vessels will remain in port until the Mississippi River reopens.
Immediately following the storm the Coast Guard will evaluate all waterways and determine when the River will be reopened for safe transit. The port will issue regular updates here.
Port of Mobile: Alabama State Port Authority officials ordered all vessels to sail by Sunday afternoon unless otherwise approved by the U.S. Coast Guard, port officials said. Beginning Monday, no cargo will be received at the port terminals until the port can be reopened. All barges positioned in the port authority’s fleet areas also will be required to sail, and rail operations will be suspended by 5 p.m. Monday.
Facilities will be closed and non-essential personnel will be released by 3 p.m. Port updated can be found here.
Gulfport: The Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport has similarly ordered the port cleared of all cargo vessels.
Port Fourchon: The Captain of the Port for Morgan City set condition Yankee, with gale force winds expected to arrive within 24 hours. Hurricane force winds and 8 to 12-foot storm surge are expected.
All vessels 500 gross tons and all barges and supporting tugs intending to depart the port must arrange for immediate departure, and inbound vessels are advised to see an alternate destination. Port condition Zulu is expected when gale-force winds are predicted to arrive within 12 hours.
Following the storm the port captain will work with the port to determine when the facility can reopen.
Ports along the U.S. Gulf where shuttering as Tropical Storm Isaac began crossing the southeastern Gulf of Mexico Monday morning, with maximum sustained winds near 65 mph, the National Weather Service said.
The Louisiana Maritime Association in Metairie, La., reported from a Monday morning teleconference with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and others that landfall is expected to occur about 1 p.m. Tuesday at the mouth of the Mississippi River.
A National Hurricane Center 10 a.m. advisory placed Issac at about 310 miles from the mouth of Mississippi River, moving northwest with sustained winds of 65 mph. Isaac is expected to strengthen in the warmer Gulf waters and could reach hurricane strength by late Monday or early Tuesday. NOAA stressed the conditions could change and that close attention should be made until landfall, and the weather service issued a hurricane warning from east of Morgan City, La., to Destin, Fla.
NHC projects hurricane strength winds of 90 mph at landfall, reduced from previous forecasts of a Category 2 storm. The center warned of significant storm surge throughout the northern Gulf, rainfall of up to 18 inches are possible in southeastern Louisiana, southern Alabama, Mississippi and the western Florida panhandle.
Port officials in the Gulf have released the following updates:
New Orleans: Cargo terminals within the Port of New Orleans will cease operations by 5 p.m. today as port personnel and terminal operators finish storm preparations, including locking down cranes, ensuring key operations and security personnel are in place, removing potential hazards from wharves and securing all floating equipment.
The Associated Branch Pilots, which pilot ships through Southwest Pass at the mouth of the Mississippi River, ceased operations Sunday night and the Crescent River Port Pilots and the New Orleans Baton Rouge Pilot Association ceased moving vessels Monday morning, and closed the river to deep-draft traffic until the storm threat passes.
The Port of New Orleans Administration Building and cargo operations will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Six cargo vessels will remain in port until the Mississippi River reopens.
Immediately following the storm the Coast Guard will evaluate all waterways and determine when the River will be reopened for safe transit. The port will issue regular updates here.
Port of Mobile: Alabama State Port Authority officials ordered all vessels to sail by Sunday afternoon unless otherwise approved by the U.S. Coast Guard, port officials said. Beginning Monday, no cargo will be received at the port terminals until the port can be reopened. All barges positioned in the port authority’s fleet areas also will be required to sail, and rail operations will be suspended by 5 p.m. Monday.
Facilities will be closed and non-essential personnel will be released by 3 p.m. Port updated can be found here.
Gulfport: The Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport has similarly ordered the port cleared of all cargo vessels.
Port Fourchon: The Captain of the Port for Morgan City set condition Yankee, with gale force winds expected to arrive within 24 hours. Hurricane force winds and 8 to 12-foot storm surge are expected.
All vessels 500 gross tons and all barges and supporting tugs intending to depart the port must arrange for immediate departure, and inbound vessels are advised to see an alternate destination. Port condition Zulu is expected when gale-force winds are predicted to arrive within 12 hours.
Following the storm the port captain will work with the port to determine when the facility can reopen.
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