TS Isaac adjusts his course

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Tropical Storm Isaac is continuing to churn through the Florida straits, slowly getting better organized as it shifts to the west and the mid-Gulf coast.

As of 10 a.m. on Sunday, TS Isaac was centered just 80 miles southeast of Key West, FL. Winds have increased slightly to 65 miles per hour – still below the hurricane threshold of 74 miles per hour.

Isaac should move across the Florida Keys as a strong tropical storm or weak Category 1 hurricane during the day today. After that, the track of Isaac has become less certain.

Yesterday at this time, the computer models were indicating a landfall in the Florida Panhandle, between Tallahassee and Pensacola. As of this morning, as the models continue to gather data from Hurricane Hunter reconnaissance flights and other observations, the model tracks have shifted significantly westward.

The latest track from the National Hurricane Center puts the sub-sea level city of New Orleans in the firing line. In what could be a case of horrible irony, a landfall of then-hurricane Isaac near New Orleans on Wednesday would coincide exactly with the 7-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s devastating landfall in the same area.

Isaac is expected to increase in strength over the open Gulf waters over the next several days – potentially reaching Category 2 strength before landfall along the Gulf Coast.

Some computer models are indicating an even further-westward track, possibly moving across parts of eastern Texas Thursday into Friday. As we continue to gather more information on the progression of TS Isaac, stay tuned to the KXAN weather team for the latest.