Tropical Storm Isaias could impact NC on Monday and Tuesday

By WRAL Weather Center

The National Hurricane Center announced on Wednesday that Tropical Storm Isaias has formed in the Atlantic.

As of Thursday morning, the storm is slowing down. It is headed toward the Dominican Republican Thursday morning at 21 mph and it’s currently labeled as a strong tropical storm.

It should make landfall in the United States around Saturday or Sunday and would impact the North Carolina coastline on Monday and Tuesday. The 11 a.m. advisory on Friday from the National Hurricane Center showed the storm starting to impact N.C. by 8 a.m. on Monday.

Winds could be up to 70 mph. If the storm’s winds get up to 74 mph, it will be a Category 1 Hurricane. Meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth says forecast shows the intensity staying at a tropical storm.

Tropical Storm Isaias is about to move through a very mountainous terrain, which can “tear apart” tropical systems.

Water temperatures are warm and there here is lots of moisture in the atmosphere, which will help this system grow.

The path of this storm will ultimately determine its intensity, according to WRAL meteorologist Zach Maloch. If it stays over open water, it will gain strength. But if the storm’s path is over land, it will not been as intense.

Storm chances are with us every afternoon this week.

It is the earliest “I-named storm” on record, according to The Associated Press.

The storm is currently around 1,500 miles from Raleigh, meteorologist Kat Campbell reported Wednesday night.

The NHC also reported late Wednesday the government of the Bahamas had upgraded the tropical storm watch for the Central Bahamas to a tropical storm warning. A tropical storm watch is also in effect for the Northwestern Bahamas.

There a few things meteorologist are watching with this storm system:

• Ocean temperatures: tropical wave has enough moisture to keep some organization
• Dry air to the north: might slow development