Hurricane Isaias heads towards Florida, forecasted to be strong Cat 1 storm

A Tropical Storm Warning and Hurricane Watch are in effect for Florida as Hurricane Isaias makes its way through the Atlantic.

The latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center and NOAA projects Hurricane Isaias will develop into a strong Category 1 storm as it makes its way to South Florida’s shores on Saturday (August 1).

Forecasters are calling for Isaias to produce heavy rains and potentially life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides across the Dominican Republic, northern Haiti, Turks and Caicos, and the Bahamas before moving onto the U.S.

Heavy rains associated with Isaias may begin to affect south and east-central Florida late Friday night, as well as the eastern Carolinas by early next week. NOAA warns these rains may have the potential to create isolated flash and urban flooding, especially in low-lying and poorly drained areas.

Isolated minor river flooding is possible in the Carolinas early next week. The storm is then expected to head north where it could impact coastal areas from Georgia to Maine and remain a hurricane through Tuesday, August 4.

Isaias is the earliest “I” storm on record in the Atlantic basin and could become the second hurricane to make a U.S. landfall this season. Hanna was the first, having made landfall in Texas on July 25.

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