Hurricane Isaac
August 28, 2012
Tropical Depression #9 formed east of the Lesser Antilles on the morning of August 21, 2012. By the afternoon hours on the 21st, Isaac had strengthened into a tropical storm. Isaac tracked westward through the eastern Caribbean Sea, into the Florida Straits and then into the southeast Gulf of Mexico through the early hours of August 27th, while maintaining high end tropical storm strength. Tropical Storm Isaac then tracked northwest across the eastern Gulf of Mexico late on the 27th and early on the 28th.
On the afternoon of August 28th, Isaac strengthened to a hurricane with winds of 80 mph just off the southeast Louisiana coast (approximately 75 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River). At 6:45pm on August 28th, Hurricane Isaac made a brief landfall along the coast of southeast Louisiana in Plaquemines Parish. Maximum sustained winds were 80mph during landfall.
Isaac did not remain over land for long as the hurricane was back over water again by 9pm that same evening. Hurricane Isaac made a 2nd landfall along the coast of southeast Louisiana (just west of Port Fourchon) around 2:15am on August 29th, again with maximum sustained winds of 80mph. The radar loop above shows the progression of Hurricane Isaac (courtesy of University of Alabama in Huntsville).
Photo courtesy of NOAA, Office for Coastal Management, DigitalCoast
As the inner core of Isaac moved very slowly north across central Louisiana over the course of August 29th and 30th, the outer bands of the hurricane lifted northward across portions of southeast Mississippi, southwest Alabama, and the western Florida panhandle. The slow movement of Isaac resulted in prolonged wind, coastal flooding and flash flooding impacts across the entire region.
Overall the region fared well with regard to impacts from Hurricane Isaac. Heavy flooding rains, especially over southeast Mississippi; and minor to moderate coastal flooding and erosion were the primary problems. No injuries were reported in association with Hurricane Isaac across the area. One indirect death was reported in Escambia County, FL when a man drowned in the increasingly rough surf while attempting to ride a JetSki on August 27th as Isaac began moving north across the Gulf.
Hurricane Isaac did not directly hit our area, but significant impacts were felt across the region. The majority of this document will focus on the impacts from flooding across southern Alabama and southern Mississippi. Below are some of the regional impacts...
Jump to - Rainfall, Wind, Storm Surge, Tornado, Post-Tropical Cyclone Report, or Additional Information sections.
Photo courtesy of NASA Earth Observatory
Although Isaac weakened in intensity as it moved inland, the movement of the storm slowed to around 5 mph. This slow down resulted in prolonged excessive rainfall and resultant flooding across southwest Alabama and southeast Mississippi. The heaviest, most persistent rainfall occurred on the evening of August 29th. Radar storm total estimates of 10-20 inches of rain fell over parts of the region, especially over southeast Mississippi. Radar estimates from KMOB radar can be seen in the image to the right. The highest observed regional rainfall totals were in southeast Mississippi - Latonia, MS with 17.60 inches and Buckatunna, MS with 15.39 inches.
This widespread heavy rainfall resulted in catastrophic flash flooding over much of the region, especially across southeast Mississippi. Many roadways became flooded and many across southeast Mississippi even washed out (as seen in the images below). Water covered Highway 613 in George County, Highway 57 in Greene County an several roads across Stone County in southeast Mississippi. Many buildings across that same area became inundated, which led to numerous water rescues of trapped individuals.
Washed out road near Leakesville, MS Flooding near Leakesville, MS
Washed out road near Lucedale, MS
Impacts from the wind were rather minimal across the region, but there were some scattered, brief power outages and trees down. The strongest winds occurred along the immediate coastline where the onshore flow produced the highest wind gusts. The highest wind gust observed during Isaac was 60mph at 910am on the east end of Dauphin Island, AL. Elsewhere, along the Alabama and western Florida panhandle coastline, peak wind gusts of 40-50mph were common from late afternoon on Aug 28th through the afternoon hours on Aug 29th. Wind to 60mph damaged a grocery store roof in McHenry, MS (Stone County) along with several other buildings across the area. Some of the higher wind gusts reported across the area are as follows:
| Location | Wind Gust (mph) |
| Dauphin Island | 60 |
| Brookley Field | 51 |
| Mobile Regional Airport | 47 |
| Pensacola International Airport | 47 |
| Milton | 44 |
| Destin | 40 |
Alabama Port Downtown Mobile
Pensacola Beach Pier Causeway over Mobile Bay
3 brief EF-0 tornadoes occurred across the area as a result of Hurricane Isaac. There was an EF0 in Monroe and Choctaw Counties in Alabama and 1 EF0 in Greene County in Mississippi. Only light debris and a few downed and snapped trees were reported with these brief tornadoes with no significant damage across the area.
POST TROPICAL CYCLONE REPORT...HURRICANE ISAAC...REMOVED KNPA WIND DATA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL 355 PM CDT TUE SEP 4 2012 NOTE: THE DATA SHOWN HERE ARE PRELIMINARY....AND SUBJECT TO UPDATES AND CORRECTIONS AS APPROPRIATE. THIS REPORT INCLUDES EVENTS OCCURRING WHEN WATCHES AND/OR WARNINGS WERE IN EFFECT...OR WHEN SIGNIFICANT FLOODING ASSOCIATED WITH ISAAC OR ITS REMNANTS WAS AFFECTING THE AREA. COUNTIES INCLUDED...BALDWIN...ESCAMBIA FL...GEORGE...MOBILE... OKALOOSA...SANTA ROSA...STONE...WASHINGTON...GREENE...PERRY... WAYNE A. LOWEST SEA LEVEL PRESSURE/MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS AND PEAK GUSTS --------------------------------------------------------------------- METAR OBSERVATIONS... NOTE: ANEMOMETER HEIGHT IS 10 METERS AND WIND AVERAGING IS 2 MINUTES --------------------------------------------------------------------- LOCATION ID MIN DATE/ MAX DATE/ PEAK DATE/ LAT LON PRES TIME SUST TIME GUST TIME DEG DECIMAL (MB) (UTC) (KT) (UTC) (KT) (UTC) --------------------------------------------------------------------- KMOB-MOBILE REGIONAL 30.67 -88.24 1003.3 29/0856 130/027 29/2028 100/041 28/1533 KBFM-MOBILE BROOKLEY 30.64 -88.07 1003.7 28/2053 070/030 29/0249 100/044 29/0608 KJKA-GULF SHORES 30.29 -87.67 9999.0 / 130/022 30/0215 140/033 30/0055 KPNS-PENSACOLA REGIONAL 30.47 -87.20 1004.9 28/2053 110/028 28/2153 100/041 28/2026 KNDZ-MILTON NORTH 30.72 -87.02 1006.4 29/2056 170/014 30/1856 170/027 30/1830 KNSE-MILTON SOUTH 30.70 -87.02 1005.1 28/2156 120/023 28/1856 140/038 28/1625 KCEW-CRESTVIEW 30.79 -86.52 1000.0 28/0753 130/018 30/1440 120/030 29/1559 KHRT-MARY ESTHER 30.42 -86.68 1008.4 29/2043 130/012 30/1855 130/025 30/1855 KVPS-VALPARISO 30.48 -86.53 1006.8 28/1637 180/023 30/1857 180/039 28/1634 KDTS-DESTIN 30.40 -86.47 1008.7 29/2053 140/012 30/1953 120/035 28/1753 K79J-ANDALUSIA 31.32 -86.41 1020.0 01/0056 150/003 01/0056 REMARKS: NON-METAR OBSERVATIONS... NOTE: ANEMOMETER HEIGHT IN METERS AND WIND AVERAGING PERIOD IN MINUTES INDICATED UNDER MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WIND IF KNOWN --------------------------------------------------------------------- LOCATION ID MIN DATE/ MAX DATE/ PEAK DATE/ LAT LON PRES TIME SUST TIME GUST TIME DEG DECIMAL (MB) (UTC) (KT) (UTC) (KT) (UTC) --------------------------------------------------------------------- B. MARINE OBSERVATIONS... NOTE: ANEMOMETER HEIGHT IN METERS AND WIND AVERAGING PERIOD IN MINUTES INDICATED UNDER MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WIND IF KNOWN --------------------------------------------------------------------- LOCATION ID MIN DATE/ MAX DATE/ PEAK DATE/ LAT LON PRES TIME SUST TIME GUST TIME DEG DECIMAL (MB) (UTC) (KT) (UTC) (KT) (UTC) --------------------------------------------------------------------- DPIA1-DAUPHIN ISLAND 30.24 -88.07 120/042 29/1410 140/052 28/2000 13.5 REMARKS: C. STORM TOTAL RAINFALL FROM 1200 UTC AUG 28 UNTIL 1200 UTC AUG 31 --------------------------------------------------------------------- CITY/TOWN COUNTY ID RAINFALL LAT LON (IN) DEG DECIMAL --------------------------------------------------------------------- BUCKATUNNA WAYNE BKAM6 15.39 31.50 -88.50 GRAND BAY MOBILE 13.99 30.48 -88.34 WIGGINS STONE 11.69 30.86 -89.14 LEAKESVILLE GREENE LEKM6 11.16 31.15 -88.55 PERKINSTON STONE 10.50 30.78 -89.14 MOBILE MOBILE KMOB 9.71 30.68 -88.24 WAYNESBORO WAYNE WAYM6 9.42 31.67 -88.64 SEMMES MOBILE 9.40 30.78 -88.26 NEW AUGUSTA PERRY 8.99 31.22 -89.05 BROOKLY FIELD MOBILE KBFM 7.49 30.60 -88.06 CODEN MOBILE 6.99 30.38 -88.24 DAUPHIN ISLAND MOBILE DAUA1 6.97 30.25 -88.08 FAIRHOPE BALDWIN 6.72 30.52 -87.90 DAPHNE BALDWIN 6.10 30.60 -87.90 MCLAIN GREENE 5.77 31.10 -88.80 CRESTVIEW OKALOOSA KCEW 4.64 30.79 -86.52 DESTIN OKALOOSA KDTS 4.58 30.40 -86.47 EGLIN AFB OKALOOSA KVPS 3.53 30.48 -86.53 PENSACOLA ESCAMBIA 3.8N 3.35 30.50 -87.19 PENSACOLA AIRPORT ESCAMBIA KPNS 2.36 30.47 -87.20 REMARKS: D. INLAND FLOODING... --------------------------------------------------------------------- STONE...SEVERAL ROADS CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING FROM EXCESSIVE RAINFALL OVER THE EASTERN HALF OF THE COUNTY. GEORGE...SEVERAL HOMES FLOODED AS WELL AS MANY ROADS IN AND AROUND LUCEDALE. GREENE...NUMEROUS WATER RESCUES AND ROADS FLOODED IN THE LEAKESVILLE AREA. --------------------------------------------------------------------- E. MAXIMUM STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE... OFFICIAL TIDE GAUGES NOTED WITH LEADING G --------------------------------------------------------------------- COUNTY CITY/TOWN SURGE TIDE DATE/ BEACH OR LOCATION (FT) (FT) TIME EROSION --------------------------------------------------------------------- BALDWIN G WEEKS BAY 2.96 4.45 29/2154 MINOR MOBILE G DAUPHIN ISLAND 3.57 4.33 28/2230 MODERATE MOBILE G DOG RIVER 3.64 5.27 29/0448 MINOR MOBILE G FOWL RIVER 3.92 5.20 29/0448 MINOR MOBILE G CHICKASAW CREEK 4.28 5.14 29/2254 MINOR MOBILE G BAYOU LA BATRE 3.97 5.69 29/1312 MINOR MOBILE G USCG SECTOR MOB 4.63 5.81 29/2154 MINOR MOBILE G MOBILE STATE DO 3.84 5.30 29/1854 MINOR ESCAMBIA FL G PENSACOLA 3.47 4.02 28/2106 MODERATE REMARKS: F. TORNADOES... --------------------------------------------------------------------- (DIST)CITY/TOWN COUNTY DATE/ EF SCALE LAT LON (DEG DECIMAL TIME(UTC) (IF KNOWN) DESCRIPTION --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 NE OLD TEXAS MONROE 30/0025 EF0 31.79 -86.98 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTS POSSIBLE TORNADO IN NORTHEASTERN PART OF THE COUNTY. 3 SE SAND HILL GREENE 30/0240 EF0 31.31 -88.73 DEBRIS FROM POSSIBLE TORNADO ON BRADLEY ROAD NEAR SAND HILL. 1 E TOXEY CHOCTAW 30/1558 EF0 31.91 -88.29 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EMPLOYEE REPORTS DOWNED AND SNAPPED TREES DUE TO A TORNADO NEAR THE TOWN OF TOXEY. G. STORM IMPACTS BY COUNTY... --------------------------------------------------------------------- COUNTY DEATHS INJURIES EVACUATIONS DESCRIPTION --------------------------------------------------------------------- MOBILE 0 0 0 STORM SURGE...INUNDATION WATER LEVELS OF 1 TO 3 FEET WERE REPORTED AT MANY OF THE COASTAL AREAS...ESPECIALLY AT THE TIMES OF ASTRONOMICAL HIGH TIDES ON BOTH AUG 28TH AND AUG 29TH. NUMEROUS COASTAL ROADWAYS WERE FLOODED...ALONG WITH OTHER WATERFRONT PROPERTY. SOME OF THE ROADWAYS INCLUDE...WATER STREET (AND VARIOUS OTHER STREETS) IN DOWNTOWN MOBILE...DAUPHIN ISLAND PARKWAY AT THE DOG RIVER BRIDGE...BIENVILLE BOULEVARD ON THE WEST END OF DAUPHIN ISLAND...THE HIGHWAY 90 CAUSEWAY OVER NORTHERN MOBILE BAY...AS WELL AS LOCATIONS AROUND ALABAMA PORT. ALABAMA GOVERNOR ORDERED EVACUATIONS OF ZONES 1 AND 2 IN COASTAL MOBILE COUNTY. BALDWIN 0 0 STORM SURGE...WATER LEVELS OF 1 TO 3 FEET ALONG AREA BEACHES...ALONG WITH ROUGH SURF WHICH RESULTED IN MINOR TO MODERATE BEACH EROSION. SOME ROADWAYS ON FORT MORGAN WERE FLOODED. ALABAMA GOVERNOR ORDERED THE EVACUATION OF ZONES 1 AND 2 IN COASTAL AREAS OF BALDWIN COUNTY. ESCAMBIA FL 1 0 0 STORM SURGE...WATER LEVELS OF 1 TO 3 FEET FLOODED SOME ROADWAYS NEAR THE BEACHES. VERY ROUGH SURF RESULTED IN MINOR TO MODERATE BEACH EROSION. ONE DEATH OCCURRED WHEN A MAN APPARENTLY DROWNED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RIDE A JETSKI IN THE BUILDING SURF AS TROPICAL STORM ISAAC BEGAN MOVING NORTH ACROSS THE GULF ON MONDAY AUGUST 27TH. SANTA ROSA 0 0 0 STORM SURGE...WATER LEVELS OF 1 TO 3 FEET ALONG AREA BEACHES...ALONG WITH ROUGH SURF WHICH RESULTED IN MINOR TO MODERATE BEACH EROSION. SOME IMMEDIATE COASTAL ROADWAYS AND LOW LYING AREAS WERE FLOODED. OKALOOSA 0 0 0 STORM SURGE...WATER LEVELS OF 1 TO 2 FEET ALONG AREA BEACHES...COMBINED WITH ROUGH SURF...RESULTED IN MINOR BEACH EROSION. A FEW ROADWAYS AND LOW LYING AREAS ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST WERE FLOODED. WASHINGTON 0 0 0 EXCESSIVE RAINFALL...RADAR ESTIMATES OF UP TO 5 TO 7 INCHES OF STORM TOTAL RAINFALL FELL ACROSS WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE COUNTY. STONE 0 0 0 EXCESSIVE RAINFALL AND FLASH FLOODING...RADAR ESTIMATES UP TO 15 TO 20 STORM TOTAL RAINFALL OCCURRED...MOST OF WHICH FELL ON THE EVENING OF AUGUST 29TH. STONE COUNTY EMA REPORTED SEVERAL ROADS CLOSED DUE TO FLOOD WATERS. GEORGE 0 0 0 EXCESSIVE RAINFALL AND FLASH FLOODING...RADAR ESTIMATES UP TO 15 TO 20 INCHES OF STORM TOTAL RAINFALL OCCURRED...MOST OF WHICH FELL ON THE EVENING OF AUGUST 29TH, EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTED SEVERAL HOMES FLOODED AND MANY ROADS IN AND AROUND LUCEDALE. GREENE 0 0 0 EXCESSIVE RAINFALL AND FLASH FLOODING...RADAR ESTIMATES UP TO 10 TO 15 INCHES OF STORM TOTAL RAINFALL OCCURRED ACROSS THE COUNTY... PRIMARILY FALLING ON THE EVENING OF AUGUST 29TH. PERRY 0 0 0 EXCESSIVE RAINFALL...RADAR ESTIMATES UP TO 10 TO 15 INCHES OF STORM TOTAL RAINFALL OCCURRING OVER THE COUNTY...THE MAJORITY OF WHICH FELL ON THE EVENING OF AUGUST 29TH. WAYNE 0 0 0 EXCESSIVE RAINFALL...RADAR ESTIMATES UP TO 15 TO 20 INCHES OF RAINFALL OCCURRED ACROSS THE COUNTY...PRIMARILY ON THE EVENING OF AUGUST 29TH. $$ LEGEND: I-INCOMPLETE DATA E-ESTIMATED DON SHEPHERD
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NHC Tropical Cyclone Report - Hurricane Isaac
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Acknowledgements: Page created by Joe Maniscalco. Page updated by Morgan Barry (forecaster).
LAST UPDATED: September 2017
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