Isaias strengthens into Hurricane; Confidence increasing that Outer Banks could see impacts

Isaias has strengthened overnight into a hurricane, and confidence is increasing that the Outer Banks will be impacted by the storm starting this weekend, per a Friday morning update from the National Weather Service (NWS) Newport / Morehead City Office.

The first impacts from this system will likely be increased swell/rip current risk arriving late today and continuing through early next week. The increased swell will produce very dangerous swimming conditions starting on Friday and lasting into early next week.

The threat for tropical-storm-force winds continues to increase, especially along the coast. Tropical storm conditions could begin as early as sometime Sunday night or early Monday morning.

The most likely time of arrival of tropical-storm-force winds is during the day on Monday.

Storm surge inundation is also possible along the coast and local sounds/rivers, and localized heavy rain is also possible, depending on the storm’s final track.

The NWS advises that now is a good time for Outer Banks residents to check their hurricane plans, and guidance can be found at weather.gov/mhx/hurricaneprep.

In an 8:00 a.m. update from the National Hurricane Center, Isaias was located about 30 miles northwest of Great Inagua Island, with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, and the system was moving northwest at 17 mph.

The Island Free Press will continue to post updates as soon as they become available. For more information on the local forecast, visit www.weather.gov/mhx for weather information, or the National Weather Service office in Newport / Morehead City’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NWSMoreheadCity/.