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Tropical Storm Isaias strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane and is on track to be off the coast of Florida on Saturday into Sunday and likely to strike from southeastern North Carolina to Cape Cod on Monday and Tuesday.
Warning: Hurricane Isaias is expected to impact a significant portion of the East Coast between Saturday and Tuesday. Please read below to the “get prepared now” section.
Late Thursday night, Tropical Storm Isaias strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds near 80 miles per hour and gusts up to 100 mph.
The National Hurricane Center has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for Miami-Dade and Broward counties, from Ocean Reef north to Sebastian Inlet, WSVN Miami reported.
As of 8 AM on Friday, Hurricane Isaias was roughly 15 miles northwest of Great Inagua Island in the Bahamas and was moving at 17 mph. The center of the storm is forecast to be near the central Bahamas late Friday, and then move near or over the northwest Bahamas. The storm is expected to be near South Florida on Saturday, WESH Orlando reported.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis advised Floridians on Thursday against letting their collective guard down as the forecast “cone” shifted to the east.
“If you read the morning’s advisory from the National Hurricane Center, basically it said, ‘Look, we’re going to need a little bit more time before we really get that track,’” DeSantis said during a press briefing.
Current forecast models show Hurricane Isaias moving directly over the Bahamas, potentially and briefly strengthening to a Category 2. Hurricane Isaias expected to diminish back to a Category 1 as it moves north, remaining off the East Coast of Florida and headed toward the Carolinas. However, part of Central Florida is still within the cone where parts of Miami, Palm Beach and Port St. Lucie could be impacted.
After moving past Florida, forecasters expect Hurricane Isaias to make landfall between Jacksonville, North Carolina and Avon North Carolina. From there, forecasters anticipate that Isaias will ride up the East Coast, nearing Ocean City, Maryland and Long Island, and expect the storm to make landfall again at Cape Cod, Massachusetts, PA Weather Action reported.
Forecasters are advising that people who live in southern and eastern Florida, far Eastern North Carolina, Eastern Maryland, coastal New Jersey, Eastern Long Island and southeast Massachusetts and New England should begin making preparations now for potential significant impacts from Hurricane Isaias. Forecasters worn that anyone living in these areas are at risk of experiencing wind gusts up to 80-110 miles per hour on Monday or Tuesday, depending on location.
The National Weather Service (NWS) recommends having hurricane kits ready, filling up your vehicle’s gas tank, as well as making sure your dwelling is prepared to withstand the storm.
You should also have an evacuation plan. This includes understanding what type of zone you live in and the hazards in your surrounding area. You need to be prepared in case flooding blocks certain routes, you want to be sure that you have planned, in advance, for alternate routes in your exit strategy.
The next thing of vital importance is to make sure you have a communication plan for your family. This starts by making sure you have cellphones for every member of your family. You can get family plans that will give each member of your family a cell phone for free. Search for cell phone plan deals near me.
The next crucial thing to have on hand is a 3-day supply of fresh water and food. This includes food for your pets.
It’s also vital to have a weather radio that is battery-powered or can be charged by a hand crank in case the power goes out. It’s also a good idea to have a flashlight, a spare battery backup charger for your cell phone, and extra batteries for your weather radio and flashlight.
In addition, make sure your emergency kit also contains vital medications and a first aid kit.
To get additional information about how to be prepared for severe weather, visit these US government websites for articles on preparedness at: Ready.gov
