Hurricane Hunters Pinpoint TS Edouard

  • Published
  • By Staff Reports
  • 403rd Wing
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  After receiving critical storm data from the Hurricane Hunters this morning, the National Hurricane Center extended the warning for Tropical Storm Edouard from the mouth of the Mississippi River Westward to Port O'Connor, Texas and said it could be nearing hurricane strength before reaching the coastline.

After flying missions into Hurricane Dolly two weeks ago, the National Hurricane Center has again called on Citizen Airmen of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron to provide critical data on this new system brewing in the Gulf of Mexico. A hurricane watch remains in effect from west of Intracoastal City, Louisiana to Port O'Connor.

Earlier today the center of Tropical Storm Edouard was located about 160 miles south-southeast of Lafayette, La., and about 265 miles east-southeast of Galveston, Texas. Maximum sustained winds are 45 mph; however, higher gusts are expected during the next 24 hours. A storm surge of 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels can be expected in the warning area in areas of onshore winds. Isolated tornadoes are possible over portions of southern Louisiana and the upper Texas coast later today and tonight.

Edouard is moving toward the west near 8 mph and is expected to turn west-northwest later today, which would bring the center of Edouard very near the upper Texas coast or the coast of southwestern Louisiana by Tuesday morning.

The Hurricane Hunters are scheduled to fly again this evening and Tuesday morning into TS Edouard before it makes landfall. Data gathered through aerial reconnaissance is more accurate and gives forecasters a better picture of what is going in inside the disturbance.