JUDY. Additionally, most gas stations were closed, due to power outages leaving the pumps unusable. [82] The names Ina and Ivy were also suggested as possible replacement names. Virginia Hurricane Isabel. Isabel moved with peak winds of 167 mph (270 kph). it did so with sustained winds of up to 105 miles per hour. The National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane watch from the North Carolina/Virginia border to Chincoteague near its border with Maryland about 50hours before Isabel struck land, including the southern portion of the Chesapeake Bay. A Virginia . The southern Outer Banks took the first hit from the massive storma category 2 hurricane at the time with 105 mph winds. The flooding also killed 2530 head of livestock. [11] The hurricane continued to intensify, and Isabel reached its peak intensity of 165mph (270km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 915 mbar (hPa; 27.02 inHg) on September 11, a Category 5 hurricane on the SaffirSimpson Hurricane Scale. [29], Strong winds from Isabel extended from North Carolina to New England and westward to West Virginia. Damages to public roads and equipment in the area were estimated at $1million (2003USD; $1.2million 2008USD). Its track became northwesterly as a cold front approached from the Mississippi Valley. [1], The winds from Isabel downed hundreds of trees and power lines across New Jersey, leaving hundreds of thousands without power; a falling tree killed one person. [37], Isabel produced moderate to heavy damage across eastern North Carolina, totaling $450million (2003USD). . [55] Moderate winds left about 1.4million customers without power across the state as a result of trees falling into power lines, with dozens of houses and cars damaged by the trees. Take Virginia Beach. . by midday . [22] The United States Navy ordered the removal of 40ships and submarines and dozens of aircraft from naval sites near Norfolk, Virginia. Many private piers and some public ones along the coastline were destroyed or damaged from the waves and storm surge, including a destroyed pier each in Buckroe Beach and Lynnhaven. [29] The South River at Waynesboro rapidly flooded and crested at nearly 13.9 feet (4.2m), destroying four bridges and flooding downtown businesses in 23 feet (0.610.91m) of water. Severe Weather AccuWeather Ready Winter Center. Lives were lost, power was out for weeks, and in places, the coastlines of Virginia and North Carolina were changed forever. [81], Because of widespread property damage and extensive death tolls the name Isabel was retired after the 2003 season, and will not be used for future Atlantic hurricanes. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Hundreds of homes on Maryland's Eastern Shore were overtaken by surge flooding by Hurricane Isabel in 2003. Hurricane Isabel formed from a tropical wave on September 6, 2003 in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. Additionally, Doppler weather radar estimated rainfall approached 2.5inches (64mm) in St. Clair County. In all, about 350 were evacuated in Augusta County, 21 of whom by boat. About 64% of the damage and 69% of the deaths occurred in North Carolina and Virginia. Hurricane Isabel hit the Virginia coast with fury on Sept. 18. [1], In West Virginia, the storm produced moderate rainfall across the state that peaked at 6.88in (175mm) near Sugar Grove. Of those who evacuated, about 64% left for the house of a friend or a relative, with about 24% evacuating to a hotel or a motel. The length of the evacuation process varied between a few hours to two days, with the worst evacuation problems being closed or flooded roads. [51] The passage of Hurricane Isabel resulted in $40million in damage (2003USD) and no casualties in the state. Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) Satellite picture shows Hurricane Isabel entering Virginia as Category 1 storm. 2003 - Hurricane Isabel also . [1][53][54], The passage of Hurricane Isabel in Pennsylvania resulted in $160million in damage (2003USD) and 2indirect deaths in Pennsylvania. [14], Gusty winds downed several trees across Alexandria, causing about $2million in damage (2003USD, $2.3million 2008USD). On September 18, 2003, Hurricane Isabel made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane between Cape Lookout and Ocracoke Island in North Carolina with winds of 105 mph. With just a couple of days before impact, supplies were moved in, resources shuffled, and people in some parts of Hampton Roads moved outmany to local shelters. [4] The system gradually became better organized, and Dvorak classifications began early on September 5. [35] By 12days after the passage of the hurricane, FEMA distributed more than 6.3million lbs. Isabel's greatest effect was due to flood damage, the worst in some areas of Virginia since 1972's Hurricane Agnes. Effects of Hurricane Isabel in Virginia Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) Satellite picture shows Hurricane Isabel entering Virginia as Category 1 storm. Isabel moved on a generally west-northwest path throughout its life, and although at first it was not certain if Isabel . Isabel was the worst hurricane to affect the Chesapeake Bay region since 1933. [29] Rainfall peaked at 59mm (2.3in), which caused minor flooding and led to one traffic fatality. [8], Despite the orders, a relatively small number of people evacuated for the hurricane. This weekend in 2003 Hurricane Isabel hit Hampton Roads. [18][19] Strong waves, which reached 20 feet (6.1m) in height offshore, caused severe beach erosion in Hampton, Newport News, and other locations along the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Investigation prompts missing persons policy change, Effects linger from wrongful accusation in Norfolk, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. However, the combination of the location, forward speed, and strength of Isabel produced strong swells through the Providence Channel onto a narrow 10mile (16km) stretch of the southeastern Florida coastline; wave heights peaked at 14feet (4.3m) at Delray Beach. Only New Hampshire's risk remains unchanged at a 1% chance of a direct hit. It moved northwestward, and within an environment of light wind shear and warm waters, it steadily strengthened to reach peak winds of 165mph (270km/h) on September 11. Much of the state was affected by . The hurricane then rapidly intensified, moving through Categories 2 and 3 of the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, and reaching Category 4 status by late on 8 September.Isabel remained at Category 4 strength until reaching Category 5 intensity . [8] A power outage in Northumberland County caused the NOAA Weather Radio Station in Heathsville to go off the air during the height of the storm, leaving the transmitter out of service for several days. . Its track was more than 9010 km (5600 mi) long and it existed for over 22 days, 10 days of which were spent as a major hurricane. [41] By two days after the storm, about 900,000 remained without power. Higher than normal tides were seen as far north as Long Island. Damage included a destroyed marina from flooding, with falling trees damaging buildings and vehicles. The flooding left the tunnel damaged and closed for nearly a month. By the time Isabel made landfall, a tropical storm warning existed from Chincoteague, Virginia to Fire Island, New York and from Cape Fear, North Carolina to the mouth of the Santee River in South Carolina, and a hurricane warning existed from Chincoteague, Virginia to Cape Fear. Man tries to get to the boardwalk as Hurricane Isabel makes landfall September 18, 2003 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. [37], Volunteer agencies arrived in the state to assist in the aftermath of the hurricane, and by about ten days after Isabel volunteers served more than 550,000 meals to affected residents;[38] over 933,000 meals were served during the four-month cleanup operation[39] Over 10 volunteer organizations, under the coordination of Virginia's Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, worked to help individuals with debris removal across the state. About 27,000people lost power, mostly near Toronto. Hurricane Hugo came ashore as a Category 4 storm in South Carolina in September 1989, devastating Charleston . About 44million US gallons (170,000m3) of water from the Elizabeth River flooded the tunnel entirely in just 40minutes, with the workers barely able to escape. Disaster Recovery Centers, which contain information on the aftermath process, were opened in eight locations and received more than 1,850 inquiries. By . Waves, storm-surge flooding, and fallen . Imagery collected by the North Carolina Department of Transportation in 1998 offered a quick reference to pre-storm conditions. [18] Falling trees killed two in the areaone in Chesterfield County and one in the city of Richmond. The first was Hurricane Fabian, which hammered Bermuda with 125 mph winds. [1] One person suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning, believed to be caused due to improperly ventilated generators in an area affected by the power outages. . Winds 1-minute sustained: 75 mph (120 km/h) Gusts: 105 mph (170 km/h) Pressure 969 mbar (hPa); 28.61 inHg Fatalities 10 direct, 22 indirect How many hurricanes have hit Norfolk VA? Will NN Williamsburg Airport survive long term? A week later, the storm slammed into the North Carolina coast as a Category 2. Throughout its path, Isabel resulted in $5.5billion in damage (2003USD) and 51deaths, of which 16 were directly related to the storm's effects. Monetary damage in the region totaled about $3million (2003USD; $4million 2008USD). [42] Moisture from Isabel dropped light rainfall across eastern Michigan and peaked at 1.55inches (39mm) at Mount Clemens. Most areas with power outages had power restored within a few days. The Outer Banks including Ocracoke, Hatteras, and points north were hit with hurricane-force winds. Aug. 30 - Sept. 5, 1999. Hurricane Isabel was the hardest hit that Hampton Roads Virginia has taken from a storm in over 20 years. Satellite picture shows Hurricane Isabel entering Virginia as Category 1 storm.The storm surge impacted much of the southeastern portion of the state, peaking at around 9 feet (2.7 m) in Richmond along the James River; the surge caused significant damage to homes along riverways. [2] On September 3, as it passed to the south of the Cape Verde islands, organization within the system degraded,[3] though convection increased the next day. Most of those in Hampton and Norfolk left for elsewhere in the state, while the majority of those in the Northern Neck evacuated to destinations in their own neighborhood or community. Over 166,000 residents applied for individual assistance, with about $117million (2003USD) approved for residents to assist with temporary housing and home repairs. The southern Outer Banks took the first hit from the massive storma category 2 hurricane at the time with 105 mph winds. Although she had subsided from a Category 5 to a Category 2 storm, Hurricane Isabel still packed considerable punch as she came ashore between Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras on North Carolina's Outer Banks on September 18, 2003. In Amelia County, strong winds removed a mobile home from its foundation and destroyed it. That included WAVY News 10 Chief Meteorologist Don Slater, who has been with 10 On Your Side since the early 1980s. The system continued turned northward, and crossed Lake Erie into Canada. [1], By about a week after the passage of the hurricane, President George W. Bush declared disaster areas for 36North Carolina counties, 77counties and independent cities in Virginia, the entire state of Maryland, all three counties in Delaware and six West Virginia counties. Hurricane Isabel struck Virginia as a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. When visitors were allowed to return, many ventured to see the new inlet, despite a 1-mile (1.6-km) walk from the nearest road. However, it spawned an urban legend that the Third Infantry sent orders to seek shelter, orders that were deliberately disobeyed. Rough waves and a moderate storm surge along the coastline caused moderate to severe beach erosion, and one person was killed from the rough waves. [14] The roof of a shelter in Mathews County was partially blown off. Hours later, it intensified into Tropical Storm Isabel,[1] though operationally the National Hurricane Center did not begin issuing advisories until 13hours after it first developed. It moved northwestward, and within an environment of light wind shear and warm waters it steadily strengthened to reach peak winds of 265km/h (165mph) on September 11. Storms tend to intensify into Category 1-Category 5 hurricanes on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale as they approach the West Indies. The storm's floodwaters in Hampton,Virginia. [83], Hurricane Isabel at peak intensity northeast of the, Last edited on 25 February 2023, at 16:19, Effects of Hurricane Isabel in North Carolina. "Although one hasn't hit What Was The Last Hurricane . [68], Swells from Isabel produced moderate surf along the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, particularly in the Gulf of Maine. [7], The Virginia Emergency Management Agency was activated on September 15, about three days prior to Isabel making landfall and entering the state. No, there has never been a Category 5 hurricane that has made landfall in . To learn more about ChatGPT and how we can inspire students, we sat down with BestReviews book expert, Ciera Pasturel. Hurricane Katrina, tropical cyclone that struck the southeastern United States in late August 2005. Hurricane Ivan's journey was a long one. J. Torrey Bot. [16] Despite being classified as a hurricane while crossing the state, sustained winds only peaked at 70mph (110km/h) at Gloucester Point, 4mph (6.4km/h) less than minimum hurricane intensity. Storm surge values of more than 8 feet flooded rivers that flowed into the bay across Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. Isabel was the most intense hurricane of the 2003 season and directly resulted in 17 deaths and more than $3 billion in damages. Later that day, it re-organized, and for the third time, Isabel attained Category5 status while located 400miles (650km) north of San Juan, Puerto Rico. [25][26][27] A news report on September 14 warned conditions could be similar to the disaster caused by Hurricane Hazel 49years prior, resulting in widespread media coverage on the hurricane. ; Ivan had the world record of 33 (32 consecutive) six-hour periods with an intensity at or above Category 4 strength, which was broken two years later by pacific Typhoon Ioke with 36 (33 consecutive) six-hour periods at . According to the National Weather Service, the damage from Isabel in Virginia alone was some $3.37 billion. [8] Two people in the region died due to falling treesone in New Kent County and one in the city of Hopewell. [8] The Virginia Army National Guard and State Police troopers assisted in the evacuations. When Hurricane Isabel hit the Outer Banks of North Carolina on September 6, 2003, winds were . . Electric service was disrupted in areas of Virginia for several days, some more rural areas were without electricity for weeks, and local flooding caused thousands of dollars in damage. The primary reasons for the choice whether to evacuate or not were due to the track of Isabel, its strength, or influence from the media. Throughout Maryland and Washington, damage totaled about $945million (2003USD), with only one direct fatality due to flooding. Top 5 worst hurricanes to hit Virginia A look back at our most impactful hurricanes. Isabel was a large hurricane at landfall, with a windfield of 460 miles (740 kilometres). NOAA now predicts a total of 19 to 25 named storms (winds of 39 mph or greater) in the Atlantic, of which 7 to 11 are likely to become hurricanes. Strong winds downed numerous trees and power lines, causing some power outages. The unusually large wind field uprooted many thousands of trees, downed many power lines, damaged hundreds of houses, and snapped thousands of telephone poles and cross arms. After passing through West Virginia as a tropical storm, Isabel became extratropical over Western Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. Virginia reported the most deaths and damage from the hurricane. Has a hurricane ever hit Richmond Virginia? Heavy rains fell along the [21] The passage of Isabel also resulted in 32deaths in the state, 10directly from the storm's effects and 22indirectly related. In Eastern Maryland, hundreds of buildings were damaged or destroyed by the storm surge and related tidal flooding. In September, 2003, there were two powerful hurricanes that formed during the month. Moderate to severe damage extended up the Atlantic coastline and as far inland as West Virginia. At least tenpeople were directly killed by the storm, and hundreds more were injured. Recovery . The hurricane then accelerated into northeast South Carolina as a category four hurricane. The hurricane and its aftermath claimed more than 1,800 lives, and it ranked as the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. [42] By five days after the storm, about 584,000 throughout the state were still without power,[15] and by ten days after Isabel the total dropped to about 160,000, most of whom were in the Hampton Roads area. The effects of Hurricane Isabel in Virginia proved to be the costliest disaster in the history of Virginia. Hurricane Isabel slammed into the VIMS campus on September 18, 2003 during its passage across North Carolina and Virginia. [20] The system weakened after it made landfall, though due to its fast forward motion, Isabel remained a hurricane until it reached western Virginia, early on September 19. At least 40 deaths have been attributed to the storm. [6] In some locations, the surge surpassed the previous record set by the 1933 Chesapeake-Potomac Hurricane. Hurricane Isabel was the strongest Atlantic hurricane since Mitch, and the deadliest, costliest, and most intense hurricane in the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season. Hundreds of roads, including major highways, were blocked by fallen trees. Rainfall was fairly light, with 2 inches (51mm) recorded in Heathsville. Schools and businesses throughout its path closed prior to Isabel's arrival to allow time to prepare; hardware and home improvement stores reported brisk business of plywood, flashlights, batteries, and portable generators, as residents prepared for the storm's potential impact. Williamsburg has probably had only one direct hurricane hit in the last 100 years: Hazel arrived on Oct. 15, 1954. Under an Isabel-level storm combined with the maximum sea . At its peak, the storm had winds of up to 105 mph (170 km/h) with 1-minute sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). Could new DNA tech crack the JonBenet Ramsey case? Isabel caused 44 deaths and more than $1.3 billion in damage in Virginia, Maryland, and the District. [14] In Arlington County, flooding and downed trees destroyed twohouses and damaged 192homes, 46severely. [10] About 350 National Guard workers assisted boat owners in the southeastern portion of the state. Ketia Daniel, founder of BHM Cleaning Co., is BestReviews cleaning expert. September 11, 2003 Moving west-northwest, . Officials closed schools, government offices, and businesses across the eastern portion of the state, leaving usually heavily congested roads as empty streets. Isabel intensified rapidly on the 8th, going through Categories 2 and 3 of the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale and reaching Category 4 intensity that day. In Albemarle County, a popular forest boardwalk that was part of the Monticello property was destroyed by a falling oak tree. [66], Isabel dropped light to moderate precipitation across the eastern half of Ohio, with isolated locations reporting over 3in (75mm). Further inland, heavy rainfall was reported, peaking at 20.2inches (513mm) in Sherando, Virginia,[42] causing damage and severe flash flooding. The Small Business Administration approved more than 3,000 low-interest disaster loans from homes and businesses, with the value of the loans totaling $74million (2003USD; $87million 2008USD). The rainfall also caused extensive surface runoff in higher terrains, which led to flow over emergency spillways. (WFXR) - Ida is the second major hurricane in the Atlantic hurricane 2021 season, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). [40], Dominion Virginia Power quickly began to restore the widespread power outages with a workforce of about 11,000, working between 14 and 16hours per day. The worst of Isabel's effects came from its storm surge, which inundated areas along the coast and resulted in severe beach erosion. [52] Numerous low-lying areas were flooded due to high surf, strong storm surge, or run-off from flooding further inland. It also affected other areas such as Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia . . through eastern north carolina and central virginia. [7] Richmond set a new daily rainfall record from the precipitation from Isabel. Damage was greatest along the Outer Banks, where thousands of homes were damaged or even destroyed. [3], By four days before Isabel made landfall, most weather models predicted Isabel to make landfall between North Carolina and New Jersey. [40], The storm surge assailed much of southeastern Virginia causing the worst flooding seen in the area since the 1933 ChesapeakePotomac hurricane, peaking at an estimated 9feet (2.7m) in Richmond along the James River. [7], A tornado was reported near Emporia, though this was not later confirmed. The United States Geological Survey used sand from the ferry channel to the southwest of Hatteras Island, a choice made to minimize the impact to submerged aquatic vegetation and due to the channel being filled somewhat during the hurricane. Has any hurricane hit Virginia? Repair crews in the East Coast states are working to restore power to 3.3 million customers still without power from Hurricane Isabel, as power companies said it would take at least a week to . September 14, 1944 - This storm was a category 3 when it brushed Cape Henry. Based on the development of a closed surface circulation, it is estimated the system developed into Tropical Depression Thirteen early on September 6. Isabel started as a wave on September 1st, strengthened to a Category 5 hurricane by September 11th, and made landfall along the coast of North Carolina by September 18. [22] Isabel was the first major hurricane to threaten the Mid-Atlantic States and the Upper South since Hurricane Floyd in September 1999. [1] During this time, Isabel attained annular characteristics, becoming highly symmetrical in shape and sporting a wide eye. deadly flash flooding & mudslides ensued. [24], On September 18, the Canadian Hurricane Centre issued heavy rainfall and wind warnings for portions of southern Ontario. Minor beach erosion was reported in Palm Beach County. In Mathews County, two boat owners experienced fatal heart attacks as they worked to protect their boats. In this file photo, people look over the water damage from Hurricane Isabel in flooded . [7], The winds downed trees throughout the area, some of which hit homes and vehicles. [1], Two days before Isabel made landfall, the National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane watch from Little River, South Carolina to Chincoteague, Virginia, including the Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds and the lower Chesapeake Bay. 30% who participated in the survey along the Eastern Shore left. . [36] By about four months after the hurricane, 93,139 individuals in the designated areas applied for disaster assistance, while 20,417people visited Disaster Recovery Centers throughout the state. Most participants in the survey stated they did not hear any sort of evacuation notice from public officials in their location, however. For experts, where Florence formed offered some comparison to Isabel. The ninth named storm, fifth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the season, Isabel formed near the Cape Verde Islands from a tropical wave on September 6, in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. Hatteras Island took a lashing during the opening hours of Isabel. [36], In northeastern South Carolina, the outer rainbands produced moderate winds reaching 45mph (72km/h) at Myrtle Beach. [12] As Isabel underwent another eyewall replacement cycle, outflow degraded in appearance and convection around the eye weakened,[13] and early on September 13, Isabel weakened to a strong Category4 hurricane. Isabel formed on September 6 from a tropical wave that exited the coast of Africa on September 1. This strong hurricane made landfall near Port Fourchon, La. No damage was reported from Isabel in the region. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Isabel hit land as a Category 2 storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale. 2011-02-24 01:07:36. [10] As a result, Isabel weakened slightly to a Category3 hurricane. On September 9, Isabel reached an initial peak intensity of 130mph (210km/h) for around 24hours, a minimal Category4 hurricane on the SaffirSimpson Hurricane Scale. Isabel made landfall near Drum Inlet, North Carolina, around 1 p.m. Thursday, September 18, as a category 2 hurricane with 100 mph winds. [30], The rainfall led to extensive flash flooding and river flooding, including along several tributaries of the South River. [39] Strong winds downed hundreds of trees of across the state, leaving up to 700,000residents without power. [1], Officials declared mandatory evacuations for 24counties in North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland, though in general not many left. The majority of the damage that we experienced resulted from falling trees. [7] The downed trees snapped many power lines, leaving about 365,000Dominion Virginia Power customers in the Richmond area without power. [29] A buoy in Lake Ontario reported a peak gust of 78km/h (49mph),[70] and gusts reached as strong as 81km/h (51mph) at Port Colborne, Ontario. Hurricane Isabel . isabel increased to a category 5 hurricane on september 11.northeast of the leeward islands.peaking in strength on september 12.with 160 mph winds. And finally someone sent a note that just said 75 percent of the area is without power., (In part two of our series, the aftermath, the weeks of struggle to get things back to normal, and the price tag put on 2003s costliest tropical system. Then the morning of Thursday, Sept.18, it was go time for Isabel, and time for Hampton Roads to hunker down and ride out the storm. [6] Additionally, Chesapeake Light, located 12 miles (19km) east of Virginia Beach, reported a peak wind gust of 107mph (172km/h). Slater said,Itreally looked like it was going to move somewhere toward the North Carolina coastline or the Virginia coastlineOUR coastline.. [77] Dredging operations began on October 17, about a month after the hurricane struck. Even Plymouth more than 50 miles inland reported gusts as high as 95 mph. 1. Major storms in the 1800's include the Great Coastal Hurricane of 1806 and an 1821 . In Surry, only 9% of those in a Category2 hurricane storm surge zone left. Hurricane Isabel was undoubtedly the strongest hurricane-both in terms of central pressure and wind speed-in the Atlantic open waters until two other hurricanes, Irma and Dorian, surpassed it in 2017 and 2019. [9] In all, more than 160,000 residents in southeastern Virginia were told to evacuate, including 11,000 in vulnerable locations along the Chesapeake Bay[10] and all residents in mobile home parks in Chesapeake and Newport News. ", "Hurricane Isabel Situation Report: September 25, 2003", "Isabel to bring heavy winds to eastern Ontario", "Final Report of the 2003 Hurricane Season", "Replacement Names for 2003 Atlantic Hurricanes (Fabian, Isabel, and Juan) and 2002 Hurricane Lili", National Hurricane Center Tropical Cyclone Report for Hurricane Isabel, National Hurricane Center advisory archive for Hurricane Isabel, Category 5 Hurricane Isabel eye vortices java loop, Hurricane Isabel in Perspective: Proceedings of a Conference, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hurricane_Isabel&oldid=1141545828, This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 16:19. Throughout the path of Isabel, damage totalled about $5.5billion (2003USD). MPEG-1 (.mpg) format (572 kb) Isabel, which was once a powerful Category 5 hurricane in the central Atlantic with winds estimated at 160 mph, finally came ashore on September 18, 2003, as a much weaker Category 2 storm. [15] The passage of the hurricane resulted in an agricultural damage total of about $117million (2003USD, $137million 2008USD). [25] Isabel also produced rough surf in Lake Ontario, with waves reaching 4m (13ft) along the western portion. [7], In the Hampton Roads region, Isabel produced a high storm surge, including reports of 7.5 feet (2.3m) at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and a peak of 8.3 feet (2.5m) at Gloucester Point. [21] By about four months after the passage of the hurricane, disaster aid totaled about $516million (2003USD), primarily in North Carolina and Virginia. There, emergency management personnel evacuated about 300people due to the ensuing flooding, which caused about $250,000 in property damage (2003USD; $293,000 2008USD). [69] The strong pressure gradient between Isabel and a high pressure system over eastern Canada produced strong easterly winds across lakes Ontario and Erie.