LSU=Champions

You idiot.

Of course the plane to pick up these massive readings is Air Force not NOAA so there’s no Tail Doppler Radar to verify what’s actually going on down below.

The two new 136kt flight level readings calculate to 122.4kt / 140mph at surface level (if using a standard 0.90 reduction factor) or 118kt / 136mph at surface level (if using 0.87 reduction factor noted by Pettus).

We’ll know more in the next 24 hours.

126kt flight level obs in NE eyewall. Woah.

Recon just punched E eyewall and clocked some of the highest flight level winds yet at 118kt. By my recall, this is 2nd highest of its kind. Strongest flight level wind observation before that was 120kt on the last flight, and I think it was just one obs at that. These are not surface level winds but still indication that Isaias is more than holding it’s on in the fight against the wind shear and dry air. Honestly impressed.

Pretty notable eastward shift of the cone this close to landfall, especially the western edge of the cone.

NEZ, that’s a good view of the battle between the wind shear and dry air pushing in from the west and the core attempting to wrap convection around and warm eye. That wobble at end of the loop looks to me like the shear might just finally be making its biggest impact yet.

The center of circulation remains on the right side of the forecast cone and is approaching the edge. I think the NHC is going to shift its cone and its midpoint even more east at the 10am advisory.