Update, 27 Aug 2012, 7 a.m.: Isaac is forecast to strengthen throughout the next 48 hours. The updated storm path form the NHC places Isaac over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico for longer than forecasts had anticipated last week, which could lead to further strengthening. The official forecast is for Isaac to become a Category 2 storm just before landfall on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.
Original Post:
Isaac is moving back over the warm waters of the Florida straights and likely to strengthen into a hurricane during the day on Sunday. The storm weakened some on Saturday as the center passed over the eastern side of Cuba. However, the trip over land was a short one and Isaac remains poised to rapidly strengthen once it’s able to develop a central core of convection (or thunderstorms). A low amount of wind shear might also inhibit development early in the day, but the forecast environment becomes more favorable for strengthening as Isaac nears the Florida Keys. The official forecast takes Isaac into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico as a hurricane Sunday night.
Stay tuned to WUFT-FM, or follow the @GatorWeather team on Twitter for the latest on Isaac. Or you can log on to www.gatorweather.com for the lastest forecasts and live updates streamed online.