Isaac strengthens in Gulf, approaches New Orleans - WICU12/WSEE Erie, PA News, Sports, Weather and Events

At 5 PM Tropical Storm Isaac continued to strengthen, with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph.  The storm is over the eastern part of the Gulf, and moving northwest at 12 mph.  Isaac is expected to become a hurricane over the northern Gulf before making landfall late Tuesday, over the Mississippi River Delta near New Orleans.

While Isaac is not nearly as strong as Katrina, 24-36 hours before landfall, Isaac's path and timing have some strong similarities to Katrina.  Isaac is likely to make landfall within 12 hours of the 7 year anniversary of Katrina.

Isaac is most likely to make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 74 to 95 miles per hour, although it is not out of the question that it could become a Category 2 storm before landfall.  A significant storm surge will occur in some parts of the central Gulf Coast, and more than a dozen inches of rain will inundate some inland areas of the Southeast. 

Locally, the remnants of Isaac are likely to bring us some scattered showers during the weekend.