Isaac Expected to Hit Gulf Coast as Hurricane

But shouldn't be as bad as Katrina

By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 27, 2012 12:31 PM CDT

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Isaac Expected to Hit Gulf Coast as Hurricane — A resident walks along Bayshore Boulevanrd in between squalls blowing across the bay in Tampa, Fla., Monday, Aug. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tropical Storm Isaac is following Hurricane Katrina's path, and is expected to plow into the Gulf Coast as a hurricane tomorrow or Wednesday—Katrina's seventh anniversary. But unlike the 2005 storm, Isaac is predicted to be Category 1, quite a bit weaker, CNN reports. Still, thousands have been told to evacuate, including more than 2,000 prisoners who will be moved by the end of the day. More than 4,100 National Guard troops have been activated in Louisiana and 1,500 in Mississippi.

Louisiana could see 10 to 16 inches of rain during the storm, while Mississippi is expecting waters as high as 16 feet on the coast. The silver lining? The Midwest could also see rainfall, providing some much-needed drought relief, Reuters reports. More fallout from the storm:

Thousands are without power in Florida.
Oil production along the Gulf is being cut in preparation for the storm, the AP reports, meaning gas prices could increase by 10 cents within the next week, by CNN's estimation.

Click to see how Isaac affected today's GOP convention events. (More Tropical Storm Isaac stories.)

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