Isaias Strengthens Ahead Of North Carolina Landfall: NWS

NORTH CAROLINA — Isaias, the tropical storm making its way north up the eastern coast of the United States, is forecast to strengthen before making contact with the Carolinas' coastline late Monday into early Tuesday.

The National Weather Service predicts Isaias will remain east of the U.S. eastern coast overnight Sunday before making landfall Monday night to Tuesday morning over the coast of the Carolinas.

According to a late Sunday night update from the National Weather Service, strong tropical storm conditions are expected within a Tropical Storm Warning area that spans from Florida to North Carolina until Monday night.

As Monday night turns to Tuesday morning, near-hurricane conditions, including strong winds, could affect areas in the Carolinas.

Several watches and warnings have been issued in anticipation of the storm's landfall.

• Storm Surge Warning — Edisto Beach, South Carolina, to Cape Fear, North Carolina
• Storm Surge Watch — Cape Fear to Duck, North Carolina; Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds
• Hurricane Watch — Santee River, South Carolina, to Surf City, North Carolina

The weather service also warns rainfall totals between 3 and 6 inches are possible in the Carolinas, and some isolated areas could see up to 8 inches of rain.

Heavy rainfall could result in the minor to moderate flooding of rivers throughout the mid-Atlantic and in the southern Appalachians, the NWS reports. Residents in eastern North Carolina are also urged to be aware of the threat of occasional tornados Monday evening and overnight.

A strong storm surge could also affect coastal areas between Edisto Beach, South Carolina, and Cape Fear, North Carolina, as well as in Duck, North Carolina. The weather service warns surges of 2 to 4 feet above ground level are possible.

Evacuations

• Brunswick, mandatory — Renters, vacationers and guests were required to evacuate Holden Beach by 7 p.m. Saturday
• Brunswick, mandatory —Renters, vacationers and guests were required to evacuate Ocean Isle Beach at 12 p.m. on Saturday.
• Dare, mandatory — A mandatory evacuation for Hatteras Island visitors took effect at 12 p.m. on Saturday. A mandatory evacuation order for the island's residents and property owners will begin at 6 a.m. on Sunday. This area falls under Evacuation Zone A, which covers the villages of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras Village.
• Hyde, mandatory — Visitors and residents of Ocracoke Island were required to evacuate as of 12 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Saturday, respectively.
• Franklin Township, voluntary — A voluntary evacuation order has been issued for residents and visitors in Franklin Township, including south of Highway 411 from Harrells to Clear Run and south of Highway 41. The order takes effect at 4 p.m. on Monday
• Oak Island, voluntary — An evacuation order for non-residents of Oak Island takes effect at 6 p.m. Sunday
• Caswell Beach, voluntary — A voluntary evacuation order for non-residents will take effect at 8 a.m. on Monday.
• Keep up with real time evacuation orders through the ReadyNC website.

"With the right protection and sheltering, we can keep people safe from the storm while at the same time trying to avoid making the pandemic worse," North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said Friday on Twitter. "A hurricane during a pandemic is double trouble. But the state has been carefully preparing for this scenario."