Hurricane Isbell - Meteorological History

Meteorological History

An old diffused frontal trough entered the western Caribbean Sea in early October. Evidence of a tropical disturbance originated over the western Caribbean during October 7 and October 8 at the very end of this frontal trough. The system developed and a weak tropical depression formed on October 8 as it started to move slowly to the northwest. On October 12, it stalled its northwestern progress and made a small loop, followed by a northeastward turn. Lack of inflow and possible earlier land interaction kept the depression fairly weak, but it was able to strengthen 5 mph (10 km/h) further from its original strength later that day, and then reached tropical storm strength on October 13 and was designated as Tropical Storm Isbell.

Isbell reached hurricane intensity around 18 UTC on October 13 shortly after reaching tropical storm status earlier that day. A few hours after being upgraded, the storm made landfall in the extreme western portion of Cuba. It then crossed western Cuba, entered the southeast Gulf of Mexico, and began to strengthen into a Category 3 hurricane.

Isbell reached its peak strength, with winds of 125 mph (205 km/h), southwest of Key West. Subsequently, Isbell weakened and made landfall in Florida near Everglades City as a Category 2 hurricane on October 14. Maintaining intensity across the southern Florida peninsula, Isbell maintained hurricane status as it reached the western Atlantic that night, but the storm began to steadily weaken while moving north. It maintained its hurricane force winds until October 16. Isbell became extratropical, with winds of 45 mph (70 km/h), shortly before its final landfall near Morehead City, North Carolina on October 16, and dissipated the next day after moving inland.