Could RI Get Hit By Hurricane Isaias?
GoLocalProv News Team
Could RI Get Hit By Hurricane Isaias?
Here is what we know: Accuweather says, “Isaias ramped up to an 80-mph Category 1 hurricane during Thursday night, shortly after pulling away from Hispaniola and will now churn through the Bahamas, just north of Cuba, before making a run along the Eastern seaboard of the United States this weekend to early next week.
"As a tropical storm, Isaias lashed Puerto Rico with 60-mph winds and heavy rains and made landfall in the Dominican Republic Thursday afternoon. The storm brought impacts to Haiti, the Dominican Republic's neighbor on the island of Hispaniola, also as it pushed northwest over the Caribbean," according to Accuweather.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTTropical Storm Isaias was upgraded from Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine status by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) at 11 p.m. EDT Wednesday. The system strengthened as it developed a more organized center with thunderstorms wrapping around its core -- and, with its upgrade, Isaias became the earliest "I-storm" in recorded history. The prior record holder was Irene from Aug. 7, 2005.
Isaias could become the second named system to make landfall in the U.S…but with the abrupt strengthening during Thursday night, a curved path could keep most of the hurricane-force winds east of the U.S. coastline.
"Florida may only get skimmed by the storm this weekend but the Carolina coast, which sticks out farther to the east is still vulnerable for a possible landfall early next week," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alan Reppert said. "It will be losing wind intensity by that time though, but it still will bring rain, wind and rough surf, especially to the Florida and Carolina coastline."
BoatUS has issued a strong warning to boat owners, “Hurricane Isaias is forecast to run up the East Coast, likely bringing heavy rains, high winds and storm surge from South Florida to potentially as far north as New England through next week. While it’s uncertain if the storm will reach a hurricane Category 1 status (sustained winds of 74 mph) Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is urging boaters to be prepared."
“It doesn’t take a major hurricane to cause major damage to your boat,” said BoatUS Vice President of Public Affairs Scott Croft. “Boats most often sink when they are tied up at the dock, with the owner away, so one of the most important things boaters can do now is to make sure their boats shed water.”
Croft says to clear deck scuppers, ensure hatches are tight, remove windage such as bimini tops, and consider adding extra lines with chafe protection.
BoatUS offers free tools, tips and information at BoatUS.com/Hurricane-Prep to help put a hurricane plan in place that can help prevent boat damage. If time is tight, Croft says BoatUS’s collection of hurricane-planning videos with simple projects you can do yourself, can help you start prepping.
Top Experts Warn About the 2020 Hurricane Season
In May, GoLocal reported top hurricane experts in the United States are predicting a heavy season of hurricanes on the East Coast.
The outlook from the experts at the Earth System Science Center (ESSC) at Penn State University and Colorado State University (CSU) is a flag for emergency response agencies to begin to prepare for a potentially very significant and damaging season.
ESSC scientists Dr. Michael E. Mann and Daniel J. Brouillette and alumnus Dr. Michael Kozar released their seasonal prediction for the 2020 North Atlantic hurricane season, which officially starts on 1 June and runs through 30 November. READ MORE HERE
Florida Warning in Place - National Weather Service
Hurricane Isaias Local Statement Advisory Number 13
National Weather Service Miami FL AL092020
509 AM EDT Fri Jul 31 2020
**Tropical Storm Watches Continue in Effect For Portions of Southeastern Florida**
NEW INFORMATION
* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Coastal Broward,
Coastal Miami-Dade, Coastal Palm Beach, Inland Broward, Inland
Palm Beach, Metro Broward, Metro Miami-Dade, and Metro Palm Beach
* STORM INFORMATION:
- About 580 miles southeast of West Palm Beach FL or about 560
miles southeast of Fort Lauderdale FL or about 550 miles
southeast of Miami FL
- 20.9N 73.3W
- Storm Intensity 80 mph
- Movement Northwest or 305 degrees at 17 mph
SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------
Hurricane Isaias is forecast to move across the Bahamas as a category
1 hurricane today through Saturday. Forecast uncertainty remains high
at this time with Isaias and any notable change in the forecast could
bring tropical storm force winds inland into portions of southeastern
Florida. A tropical storm watch continues to be in effect for most of
southeast Florida including all of Palm Beach and Broward Counties
along with metro and coastal Miami-Dade County.
A reasonable worst case scenario at this time is for portions of Palm
Beach and Broward counties closer to the coast to be potentially
impacted by high end tropical storm force winds (winds greater than
58 mph) with the concern for portions of the remainder of southeastern
Florida being the potential for tropical storm force winds in excess
of 39 mph. Concerns for potential impacts from hurricane conditions,
if the track were to shift closer to portions of southeast Florida,
cannot be ruled out at this time but the risk remains low. It is
important to continue to monitor forecast trends with future
advisories.
Should tropical storm force winds impact southeastern Florida, they
could start as early as the pre dawn hours on Saturday but conditions
are most likely to start sometime late Saturday afternoon and into the
evening hours. Winds would gradually subside during the morning hours
on Sunday.
Other concerns with this system will be potential for locally heavy
rainfall, particularly across eastern portions of South Florida where
there is a marginal risk of excessive rainfall. High surf and
dangerous rip currents along with minor coastal flooding are likely as
the storm passes east of the coast. A stronger system and/or a track
closer to the coast could increase the threat of coastal flooding, so
again it is important to keep monitoring future forecasts. Marine
conditions will deteriorate early Saturday morning as the system
approaches the region from east to west across the local Atlantic
waters with increasing winds and building seas. Marine conditions are
not likely to improve until Sunday.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------
* WIND:
Prepare for dangerous wind having possible significant impacts across
eastern portions of Palm Beach and Broward Counties. Potential impacts
in this area include:
- Some damage to roofing and siding materials, along with damage to porches, awnings, carports, and sheds. A few buildings experiencing window, door, and garage door failures. Mobile homes damaged, especially if unanchored. Unsecured lightweight objects become dangerous projectiles.
- Several large trees snapped or uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are shallow rooted. Several fences and roadway signs blown over.
- Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban or heavily wooded places. A few bridges, causeways, and access routes impassable.
- Scattered power and communications outages, but more prevalent in areas with above ground lines.
Also, prepare for hazardous wind having possible limited impacts across inland portions of Palm Beach and Broward Counties along with portions of northeastern Miami-Dade County.
Elsewhere across South Florida, little to no impact is anticipated.
* FLOODING RAIN:
Prepare for locally hazardous rainfall flooding having possible limited
impacts across the Southeast Florida metropolitan areas. Potential
impacts include:
- Localized rainfall flooding may prompt a few evacuations.
- Ditches and canals may quickly rise with swift currents.
- Flood waters can enter a few structures, especially in usually
vulnerable spots. A few places where rapid ponding of water
occurs at underpasses, low-lying spots, and poor drainage
areas. Several storm drains and retention ponds become
near-full and begin to overflow. Some brief road and bridge
closures.