Tropical Storm Watch Issued For NYC

NEW YORK CITY – A tropical storm watch has been issued for New York City as Tropical Storm Isaias begins to make its move up the East Coast.

"The main threats with this system are expected to involve locally heavy rainfall, strong winds, minor to moderate coastal flooding, along with high surf and dangerous rip currents," the storm watch says.

At 5 p.m. Sunday, Isaias was located 65 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral, Florida, and about 410 mile south of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It was moving north northwest at 9 mph, the National Weather Service said. Isaias has strengthened a little with max sustained winds of 70 mph.

"Right now the period of the heaviest rain is slated for late Tuesday morning into Tuesday afternoon and evening across much of the region," the National Weather Service said of its arrival in the North East. The tropical storm watch went into place at 6 p.m. Sunday and stays in effect until further notice.

"The current thinking is a wide swath for the potential of a 2 to 4 inch rainfall across the area with locally higher amounts of around 5 inches possible, with the eventually storm track ultimately deciding where the axis of heaviest rainfall sets up," the weather service said.

Winds are expected to pick up Tuesday afternoon.

"One positive note is the storm is expected to accelerate to the north and northeast into Tuesday and Tuesday night. This may limit the duration of impactful winds to some extent for coastal sections. The preliminary guidance is suggesting the strongest winds may get up to 45 mph sustained along the immediate coast near the center of circulation, with perhaps gusts to around 60 mph or thereabouts across southern coastal sections of New York City, Long Island, and potentially coastal Connecticut into Tuesday evening," the NWS said.

The full forecast, courtest of the NWS:

Monday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. West wind 7 to 9 mph.

Monday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday
Tropical storm conditions possible. Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Steady temperature around 76. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Tuesday Night
Tropical storm conditions possible. Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Wednesday
A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.

Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 68.

Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 84.

Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.

Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.