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Hurricane Isaac Leaves Rescues and Outages in its Path

Isaac's whistling winds lashed this city and the storm dumped nearly a foot of rain on its desolate streets, but the system of levee pumps, walls and gates appeared to withstand one of the stiffest challenges yet. To the north and south, though, people had to be evacuated or rescued as Isaac lingered over Louisiana.

The rain fell almost constantly for more than a day, flooding neighborhoods in a rural part of the state and in neighboring Mississippi. Officials had to respond quickly because the waters were rising fast - even as Isaac meandered slowly northward Thursday on a path toward Arkansas.
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© AP Photo/David J. PhillipChuck Cropp, center, his son Piers, left, and wife Liz, right, wade through floodwaters from Hurricane Isaac Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012, in New Orleans.
President Barack Obama declared federal emergencies in Louisiana and Mississippi late Wednesday, allowing federal aid to be freed up for affected areas.

Along the shores of Lake Ponchartrain, officials sent scores of buses and dozens of high-water vehicles to help evacuate about 3,000 people as rising waters lapped against houses and left cars stranded. Floodwaters rose waist-high in some neighborhoods, and the Louisiana National Guard was working with sheriff's deputies to rescue people stranded in their homes.

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Hurricane Isaac batters New Orleans seven years to the day since Hurricane Katrina

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© Mario Tama/Getty ImagesA rescue boat passes a partially submerged stop sign in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana.
New Orleans issues curfew as torrential rain and harsh winds remain serious threat as storm weakens with little relief in sight

Heavy rain, high winds and floodwaters swept over Louisiana and Mississippi on Wednesday, as Isaac was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm and a fortified levee system appeared to have saved New Orleans from disaster.

Rescuers picked up dozens of residents who had ignored warnings to leave low-lying areas, seven years to the day after hurricane Katrina devastated the city.

Power lines were cut and debris littered the streets, prompting authorities in New Orleans to declare a dusk-to-dawn curfew. Louisiana officials said they would intentionally breach a levee in Placquemines parish, south of New Orleans, as Isaac lumbered inland from the Gulf of Mexico.

Authorities feared many residents would need help after a night of torrential rain and harsh winds knocked out power to more than 700,000 households and businesses.

Comment: Hurricane Isaac hit New Orleans seven years to the day Hurricane Katrina levelled the city... is the Universe sending the US a message?




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Mount Washington Wind Gust Record Tops Hurricane Isaac

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© Getty ImagesMatthew Pettus holds a sheet open in the wind on the levee near Lake Pontchatrain as Hurricane Isaac approaches New Orleans, La.
A 1934 record from Mount Washington still stands as all time top gust measured in the U.S.


Hurricane Isaac may be nature's candidate for top wind in America right now, but Isaac's gusts don't touch U.S. record wind speeds. Mt. Washington in New Hampshire currently holds that record with a gust of 231 mph.

Blustery Mt. Washington held the world record fastest wind title from 1934 to 1996. Then, a 253 mph (408 km/h) blast from Cyclone Olivia on Barrow Island off the northwest coast of Australia blew away the American record. Mt. Washington still holds on to its spot for hosting America's strongest wind, but doesn't seem to be working hard at snatching back the world record.

"The event on April 12, 1934 was exceptional," said Mike Carmon, meteorologist at Mount Washington Observatory. "In fact, since that storm, wind speeds have never topped 200 mph (322 km/h) on Mt. Washington... The annual average wind speed for Mt. Washington is 35 mph (56 km/h), which is an impressive figure."

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Will Hurricanes Ever Reach Category 6?

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© NASAIn the 1970s, the National Hurricane Center began using categories to describe how strong a hurricane's winds are and how much damage its gusts might be expected to cause
Scientists predict an increase in strong hurricanes with global warming. Will we have to revise the rating scale?

As it moved toward to coast of Louisiana today, Hurricane Isaac was upgraded to a Category 1 on a scale that tops out at 5.

With wind speeds of about 75 miles per hour, Hurricane Isaac just barely earned the designation. Only at minimum speeds of 74 mph do winds become strong enough to cause significant damage, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Even though Category 5 storms, which sustain catastrophic gusts that blow at 157 mph or higher, are extremely rare, scientists predict an increase in strong hurricanes with global warming. That raises the question: Will we ever need to push the hurricane scale up to a 6?

Probably not, experts say. Even as warmer ocean temperatures provide more fuel for hurricanes, there are several factors that limit how powerful the storms can become.
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For now, about 200 mph is the highest that hurricane winds can theoretically get -- and only three land-falling storms have come close in the past century, said Mark DeMaria, a research meteorologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Ft. Collins, Colo. With warming, according to some models, the upper boundry could reach 220 mph.

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Tropical Storm Kirk looks more like a comet on NASA infrared imagery

Tropical Storm Kirk looks more like a comet than a tropical storm in infrared imagery from NASA's Aqua satellite because of wind shear. NASA infrared imagery also revealed powerful thunderstorms around the center of circulation which are indicators that Kirk will continue strengthening. Meanwhile, another low pressure area appears to be organizing in the eastern Atlantic, far to the southeast of Kirk.

Tropical Depression Kirk formed from the eleventh tropical depression of the Atlantic Ocean season. Tropical Depression 11 formed on Aug. 28 at 5 p.m. EDT about 1,270 miles (2,045 km) east-northeast of the Lesser Antilles. On Aug. 29 at 12:29 a.m. EDT the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite captured infrared data on Tropical Storm Kirk's clouds.
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© NASA/JPL, Ed OlsenOn Aug. 29 at 12:29 am EDT the AIRS instrument on Aqua captured infrared data on Tropical Storm Kirk's clouds. Cloud top temperatures were colder (purple) than ย–63F (-52C) around the center of circulation and west of the center. That's where the strongest storms and heaviest rainfall were occurring. Kirk appears to resemble a comet because windshear is pushing clouds and showers to the northeast.

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Hurricane Isaac makes landfall in Louisiana as category 1 storm

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© APHurricane Isaac can be seen in this satellite image as it moves towards New Orleans over the Gulf of Mexico
New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu warns residents 'we're in the hunker-down phase' as city waits for storm surge and flooding

Hurricane Isaac made landfall as a category 1 storm with top wind speeds of 80mph Tuesday in extreme south-eastern Louisiana, where authorities warned that the slow-moving storm could hit inland areas as well as coastlines hard.

The National Hurricane Center reported "strong winds and a dangerous storm surge" along the Gulf coast after the storm came ashore at 7:45pm ET. A second landfall was expected overnight.

As wind and rain intensified in New Orleans as the hurricane made landfall at the extreme southern part of the Plaquemines Parish region, mayor Mitch Landrieu held a press conference at 8pm ET. "The message of this press conference is to let you know that your city is secure," he said.

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Update: 15 Dead, 10 Missing in South Korea Typhoon

A strong typhoon has hit South Korea, killing at least 15 people and leaving 10 others missing at sea.
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A Chinese fishing boat fights high waves after taking shelter in a port on the southern island of Jeju, August 27, 2012.
Typhoon Bolaven, which is considered the strongest to hit the Asian country in about a decade, left damage in the country's southwestern and south-central regions.

The storm smashed two Chinese vessels off the southern island of Jeju on Tuesday. South Korean coast guard rescuers saved 12 fishermen, and they recovered five bodies from the sea. Search was also underway for 10 missing crewmen.
According to South Korea's public administration ministry, the typhoon snapped 235 traffic lights, caused 7,857 trees to collapse and damaged 42 ships or boats, 35 houses and 1,195 greenhouses.
The strong pacific storm also damaged 6,418 hectares (15,852 acres) of farmland.

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Hurricane Isaac gaining strength as it nears New Orleans

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Obama: "Now is not the time to dismiss official warnings. You need to take this seriously."
A powerful storm bearing down on the Gulf Coast and New Orleans is now a hurricane, US forecasters say.

Hurricane Isaac, boasting winds of at least 75mph (120km/h), is likely to make landfall by Tuesday night.

The storm is expected to hit New Orleans seven years after the much stronger Hurricane Katrina.

US President Barack Obama has warned residents in the path of the storm they should not "tempt fate" and should heed evacuation warnings.

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Chinese fishermen killed as typhoon hits South Korea

Typhoon south corea fishermen from china
Strong winds and forceful waves hit two Chinese boats near Jeju island
At least five Chinese fishermen have been killed and 10 others are missing after their boats capsized as Typhoon Bolaven hit South Korea, officials say.

The two boats were just off Jeju island when they capsized. The South Korean coast guard rescued 12 crew members, while six others swam to shore.

Three other people have also died in separate incidents in the country.

The typhoon has cut power to tens of thousands of homes. Trees have been felled and many flights cancelled.

A total of 33 people were on board the two ships when they were hit by high waves and winds, the coast guard said.

Several crew members were hauled to safety by rescue personnel using ropes. A search is continuing for those still missing, emergency personnel said.

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Tornado in Guatemala Causes Some Damage

Best view of damage @03:44. A mini tornado tears through the Municipal Cemetery in Guatemala City, with strong winds lifting roofs and pulling trees. No major injuries or deaths were reported.

Source: Reuters