STUART, Fla. — Tropical Storm Isaias strengthened overnight and winds could reach near hurricane strength as it approaches Florida later this week, according to the National Hurricane Center.
For people who are Covid-19 positive, hotels will be available for them on the west side. This is most likely in the zone from Edisto Beach, S.C., to Cape Fear, N.C., “where water rises of 2 to 4 feet above ground level are possible.”The Weather Service office serving Charleston is advising coastal residents to “[p]lan for life-threatening storm surge flooding of greater than 3 feet above ground” and the possibility of evacuations. "The onset of sustained tropical-storm-force winds will occur approximately three o'clock tomorrow," he said. Tropical storm-force-winds are spreading over the Florida coast from Jupiter Inlet to Vero Beach, and those will continue to spread northward along the coast as the day moves on.Based on forecasts for Tropical Storm Isaias, facilities at Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina will be closed starting today, according to a statement released by the National Park. Andrew Cuomo is calling on local governments to get ready for the possibility of Tropical Storm Isaias hitting the area Monday night into Tuesday morning, he said during a press call Sunday.Although he says it isn’t expected to be a hurricane when it hits New York, Isaias can still drop 3 inches of rain and bring 50 mph winds.The storm should be over by Wednesday morning and it is expected to hit Long island and the Hudson area, he said.The state is preparing generators and vehicles that can withstand heavy water.Tropical storm warnings have been extended northward to Surf City, North Carolina, according to the 11 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center.A tropical storm watch was also issued for the North Carolina coast, north of Surf City to Duck, North Carolina – this includes the entire Outer Banks.The tropical storm warning has been discontinued south of Jupiter Inlet in Florida, which means West Palm Beach is no longer under a watch or warning for tropical storm conditions. Palm Beach County has issued a voluntary evacuation order for Zone A, DeSantis said. )Although it is passing over warm water, which would ordinarily support strengthening, Isaias has battled dry air and wind shear since Friday, which has not allowed it to become well-organized. Tropical Storm Isaias skirted Florida’s east coast on Sunday, brushing it with occasional gusty showers, and roughing up the surf. This warning zone includes Melbourne, Daytona Beach and Jacksonville in Florida; Savannah, Ga., Charleston, S.C., the North Carolina Outer Banks, Virginia Beach, and Ocean City, Md.A tropical storm watch extends northward from Fenwick Island to Watch Hill, R.I., including the Chesapeake Bay, the Tidal Potomac River, Delaware Bay, Long Island and Long Island Sound.Since the storm is unlikely to move inland over Florida and push large amounts of ocean water into the coastline, the Hurricane Center discontinued the storm surge watch along Florida’s east coast. )Although it is passing over warm water, which would ordinarily support strengthening, Isaias has battled dry air and wind shear since Friday, which has not allowed it to become well-organized. ET.. It was also expected to produce several feet of storm surge inundation. ET Sunday.
Even so, minor storm surge inundation is still possible from Sebastien Inlet north, especially around high tide.The Hurricane Center issued a new surge warning from Edisto Beach, S.C., to Cape Fear, N.C. Ron DeSantis told Floridians to expect power outages, even in a tropical storm. Ron DeSantis said during a hurricane briefing today. "The worst conditions will be 11 p.m., give or take an hour, Sunday night, and then through the night. The storm’s maximum sustained winds are 70 mph, making it a strong tropical storm.
Tropical storm warnings and watches stretch from the Florida coast to Long Island, including Norfolk, the Chesapeake Bay area, D.C., Philadelphia, coastal New Jersey, and New York City.Heavy rains are predicted to drench large areas of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, as well as New England.“Flash and urban flooding, some of which may be significant in the coastal Carolinas and Virginia, is expected through midweek along and near the path of Isaias along the U.S. East Coast,” the National Hurricane Center wrote.Along the coast, the storm will push ocean water ashore, resulting in flooding.
Its official forecast calls for small fluctuations in strength and for its peak winds to remain around 70 mph until it comes ashore.Along Florida’s east coast, the storm’s outer rain bands have produced periodic showers and gusty winds, sometimes reaching tropical-storm-force.