Hurricane Isaias forecasts put South Carolina in storm path

Posted

Sumter may be impacted by its second named storm system of this hurricane season at the beginning of the week.

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5 p.m.

Forecast models for Hurricane Isaias continue to put half of South Carolina in its potential path, and new predictions now show it potentially making landfall as a tropical storm somewhere between Charleston and North Santee.

According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, hurricane warnings were issued for portions of the Florida east coast Friday afternoon, with tropical storm conditions and heavy rain continuing to spread across the central Bahamas.

As of the agency’s 5 p.m. advisory Friday, the Category 1 hurricane was moving northwest at about 15 miles per hour with maximum sustained winds at 75 mph.

Isaias was expected to move near or over the southeastern Bahamas Friday afternoon and evening and near the coast of the Florida peninsula Saturday afternoon through Sunday. Strengthening was expected Friday and Saturday but was being forecasted to strike South Carolina as a tropical storm.

Friday afternoon models show the earliest arrival of winds to the Lowcountry could be Sunday evening with up to 4 inches of rain getting dumped on the Midlands.

The main threats to the Midlands are potential isolated flash and urban flooding, especially in low-lying and poorly drained areas. The coast may see storm surge.

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2 p.m.

Hurricane Isaias is getting better organized, hurricane hunters have found according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, as tropical storm conditions and heavy rains are spreading into the central Bahamas.

According to the agency’s 2 p.m. advisory, the Category 1 storm is about 245 miles southeast of Nassau and traveling about 16 miles per hour headed northwest with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph.

It is expected to slow down throughout the day before it turns north-northwest with the Carolinas in its potential path by Sunday night.

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11 a.m.

Forecast models from the National Hurricane Center in Miami put about half of South Carolina in the cone showing potential paths Hurricane Isaias may take in the next few days, with the storm approaching and possibly striking the Palmetto State Monday morning. 

Friday morning models show Isaias tracking through the Bahamas and up Florida’s east coast Saturday and Sunday before turning to the northeast toward the Carolinas. Initial winds may reach the Lowcountry by Sunday night.

National Weather Service advisories warn of isolated flash and urban flooding, especially in low-lying and poorly drained areas. Isolated minor river flooding is possible in the Carolinas early next week, according to the agency.

As of Friday morning, the just-barely Category 1 storm was moving toward the northwest near 16 miles per hour with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph. Isaias is expected to strengthen Friday and Friday night and is expected to remain a hurricane for the next few days.

On May 27, days before the official hurricane season’s June 1 start, Tropical Storm Bertha formed and made landfall about 20 miles east of Charleston in the same day before weakening to a post-tropical cyclone the next day.

Isaias is the ninth named storm this season and the second hurricane. Four others have made landfall.

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This report will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.