Today’s USCG Port Coordination Team Tropical Storm Gordon Update:

NOAA (From 1115 CDT NWS Update)
Here are the changes from the last update:
  • The track has shifted slightly eastward
  • The intensity forecast has been nudged upward to near 60kt just before landfall.
    • This means there is some potential for Gordon to attain hurricane strength before landfall and a Hurricane Watch has been issued for the Mississippi Coast
  • The Storm Surge Watch has been upgraded to a Storm Surge Warning from Shell Beach eastward across the Mississippi Coast.
  • The Tropical Storm Warning has also been expanded to include Washington Parish and Pearl River County

Impacts will generally occur Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday.

 
Wind:
  • Potential for winds of 60-70 mph across areas generally along/east of a line from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Kenner to McComb with potential for 40-60 mph winds southwest of that line
  • There is some potential for hurricane force winds – especially in gusts across the Mississippi coastal counties

Storm Surge:

  • 3-5 ft inundation possible along the open coast from Shell beach eastward to the MS/AL border
  • 2-4 ft inundation possible along the open coast from the Mississippi River eastward to Shell Beach
  • 1-2 ft inundation along the shores of Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas, and along the open coast west of the Mississippi River

Heavy Rain:

  • Widespread 3-7 inches over the next 3 days
  • Potential for significantly higher local amounts where rain bands move over the same area for a prolonged period
 
USACE
  • Not looking at RNA impacts or lock closures at this time.
  • The Harvey-LaPalco Flood Sector gate (not the lock) will close today.

USCG
  • X-Ray set as of 2200 yesterday.   (Click here)
    • X-Ray – Port Remains Open to all Commercial Traffic – (Click here)
    • Vessels must communicate their intentions to Depart or Remain in Port.
    • Vessels that stay must submit the REMAINING IN PORT report.  Form —> (Click here)
    • Facilities should report status.  Form —> (Click here)
  • Patrols and Port Assessment Teams will be out today and tomorrow.
  • Anticipate setting Port Condition Yankee sometime this afternoon.
    • Yankee – Possible Vessel Traffic Control Measures in Effect (Click here)
PORTS
  • No Reports.
Pilots
 
BAR – A shutdown operations expected at midnight tonight ’subject to change’.
More definitive times to be provided this afternoon.
 
CRPPA –   Northbound ships stop at midnight.
Harbor movements remain open at this time. 
 
NOBRA – Monitoring.  Normal ops at this time.
No outbound ships at the point past 1800 today.  
 
Federal – Monitoring.  Will make decision of continuity of operations around 1800 tonight.  
Notifications will be made at that time.

TOWING INDUSTRY
GICA – Ops normal at this time.
GNOBFA – Monitoring.