Hurricane Isaias forecast to become 90 mph storm; hurricane watch issued for Florida's east coas
BREVARD, Fla. – Hurricane watches have been issued for the east coast of Florida as Hurricane Isaias weakened slightly, with winds dropping to 75 mph, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
Earlier forecasts that Isaias could become a Category 2 hurricane Saturday have been revised. Winds are now forecast to reach 90 mph by the time it approaches Florida, which is Category 1 strength.
The east coast of Florida is in the forecast path of the large hurricane and some models show the eye coming ashore or brushing the coast, according to the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network.
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Strong winds and heavy rain, along with dangerous beach conditions, are possible along coast over the weekend, according to the National Weather Service, Melbourne.
Tropical storm conditions are possible in the watch area in Florida beginning Saturday.
Location: 295 miles southeast of Nassau
Maximum sustained winds: 75 mph
Movement: northwest at 16 mph
Next advisory: 2 p.m.
At 11 a.m., the center of Hurricane Isaias was located 295 miles southeast of Nassau.
Isaias is moving toward the northwest near 17 mph, and a generally northwest motion with some decrease in forward speed is expected for the next couple of days, followed by a turn toward the north-northwest.
On the forecast track, the center of Isaias will move near or over the southeastern Bahamas today.
Isaias is forecast to be near the Central Bahamas tonight, and move near or over the Northwestern Bahamas and be near or east of Florida on Saturday and Sunday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph, with higher gusts.
Some strengthening is possible today, and Isaias is expected to remain a hurricane for the next few days.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 205 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure is 992 mb.
What impact will Hurricane Isaias have on Florida?
Hurricane conditions are possible across Florida over the weekend. The National Weather Service, Melbourne, said impacts to east-central Florida include:
Strong tropical storm to hurricane-force winds will be possible along the coast over the weekend, especially the barrier islands.
Squalls with wind gusts of 35-65 mph possible, with the highest winds near the coast.
3-5 inches of rain, mostly along the Treasure Coast
Dangerous beach and marine conditions are expected.
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"The U.S. will only get skimmed in Florida and the Carolina coastline with the only possible landfall along the Carolina coast early next week," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alan Reppert said.
"It will be losing wind intensity by that time though, but it still will bring rain, wind and rough surf, especially to the Florida and Carolina coastline."
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Rob Miller cautioned that people should not focus on just the eye path given the sweeping size of Isaias.
Torrential downpours, gusty thunderstorms and building seas are likely to precede Isaias by as much as 24 hours, which means that tropical storm conditions will spread northwestward across Cuba during through early Saturday and should begin in Miami during Friday night or early Saturday morning.
Warnings and watches issued for Isaias
A hurricane warning is in effect for:
Northwestern Bahamas including Andros Island, New Providence, Eleuthera, Abacos Islands, Berry Islands, Grand Bahamas Island, and Bimini
Southeastern Bahamas including the Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, the Inaguas, Mayaguana, and the Ragged Islands
Central Bahamas, including Cat Island, the Exumas, Long Island, Rum Cay, and San Salvador
A hurricane watch is in effect for: North of Deerfield Beach to the Volusia-Brevard County Line in Florida
A tropical storm warning is in effect for:
Turks and Caicos Islands
East coast of Florida from Ocean Reef to Sebastian Inlet
Lake Okeechobee
Hazards affecting land
Storm surge: A dangerous storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 3 to 5 feet above normal tide levels in areas of onshore winds in the Bahamas.
Wind: Tropical storm conditions will continue across portions of the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and the Turks and Caicos this morning. Hurricane conditions are expected to begin in the southeastern Bahamas this morning and spread into the central and northwestern Bahamas tonight and into Saturday.
Rainfall: Isaias is expected to produce the following rain accumulations through Saturday:
Dominican Republic and northern Haiti: 4 to 8 inches, with isolated maximum totals of 12 inches.
Bahamas, Turks and Caicos: 4 to 8 inches. Cuba: 1 to 2 inches, with isolated maximum totals of 4 inches.
These rainfall amounts will lead to life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides, as well as river flooding. From Friday night through Monday: South Florida into east-Central Florida: 2 to 4 inches, with isolated maximum totals of 6 inches.
These rainfall amounts could result in isolated flash and urban flooding, especially in low-lying and poorly drained areas.
Heavy rains associated with Isaias may begin to affect the eastern Carolinas by early next week. This rain could result in isolated flash and urban flooding, especially in low-lying and poorly drained areas, as well as isolated minor river flooding.
Surf: wells generated by Isaias are affecting portions of Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas. These swells will spread along the coast of Cuba and into the central and northwestern Bahamas later today and along the east coast of Florida on Saturday. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.