Hurricane Isaias makes landfall in North Carolina with 85 mph winds

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Hurricane Isaias made landfall with 85 mph winds in North Carolina late Monday night.

The National Hurricane Center said Isaias made landfall in southern North Carolina around 11:10 p.m. near Ocean Isle Beach. Isaias was moving north-northeast at 22 miles per hour with 85 mile per hour maximum sustained winds.

The system had restrengthened into a hurricane earlier Monday night with Coastal Horry and Coastal Georgetown Counties under a hurricane warning.

The Tri-County dried out with just a few leftover showers late Monday night with most inland areas experiencing little impact from Isaias.

Coastal areas throughout the Lowcountry experienced some gusty winds Monday evening with Folly Beach recording 52 mile per hour winds. Other wind reports included Sullivan’s Island with 44 mph winds, St. Johns Island with 40 mph winds, and 49 mile per hour winds reported at the mouth of the Charleston Harbor.

“There were some strong wind early enough to take some power out in some spots throughout the late afternoon and early evening which definitely warranted those watches and warnings throughout the afternoon,” said Live 5 Meteorologist Stephanie Sine.

Click here to download the free Live 5 First Alert Weather app.

At 11 p.m., the center of Hurricane Isaias was located near latitude 33.8 North, longitude 78.5 West. Isaias is moving toward the north-northeast near 22 mph (35 km/h), and this general motion accompanied by a gradual increase in forward speed is expected through tonight followed by a further increase in the forward speed on Tuesday.

On the forecast track, the center of Isaias will make landfall in southern North Carolina during the next hour or two, then move across eastern North Carolina for the rest of the night. The center move near or along the coast of the mid-Atlantic states on Tuesday, and continue across the northeastern United States Tuesday night.

Maximum sustained winds are near 85 mph (140 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected before landfall.

After landfall, only gradual weakening is anticipated after Isaias makes landfall in the Carolinas and moves across the U.S. mid-Atlantic region tonight and Tuesday.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...

• South Santee River South Carolina to Cape Fear North Carolina
• Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds, including the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers
• Ocracoke Inlet North Carolina to the North Carolina/Virginia border

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...

• Cape Fear to Ocracoke Inlet North Carolina

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...

• South Santee River South Carolina to Surf City North Carolina

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...

• North of Surf City North Carolina to Eastport Maine
• Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds
• Chesapeake Bay
• Tidal Potomac River
• Delaware Bay
• Long Island and Long Island Sound
• Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and Block Island

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.

A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

The Live 5 weather team declared Monday a First Alert Weather Day to remind people to prepare for possible impacts from the tropical storm.

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