Isaias has Again Strengthened Into a Hurricane, Landfall Expected as it Heads to the Carolinas

Isaias has strengthened again into a hurricane, and landfall is expected anytime now as it heads to the Carolinas. Hurricane warnings have been issued in parts of North and South Carolina, and tropical storm warnings and watches are extended on the whole East Coast, from Maine to Florida.

Isaias' progress

Isaias' path can be followed here. The hurricane currently has 75 mph sustained winds, as reported by the National Hurricane Center or NHC. It is accelerating towards landfall near the borders between North and South Carolina. As a hurricane, landfall is expected around midnight.

Isaias' upgrade as a hurricane has been expected; the impacts anticipated from it have not significantly been changed. These impacts include coastal flooding due to the storm surge, minor damage from winds, and flooding inland due to heavy rainfall. They are still expected to happen tonight in the Carolinas.

Other expected threats include flooding and tropical storm force winds in the mid-Atlantic progressing into the region of the Northeast on daytime on Tuesday.

READ: Hurricane Isaias Goes Through the Atlantic as Florida and the Bahamas Brace for Disaster

Strong wind gusts in the coast of South Carolina

The beachcombers in North Myrtle Beach looked to the sea as Isaias moved up to the east coast, where its landfall was expected near South Carolina's Myrtle Beach yesterday. Isaias' wind gusts were measured at 72 mph on the coast last Monday.

The wind gusts logged during the evening were as follows: 72 mph in McClellanville; 56 mph in Dewees Island; 52 mph in Folly Beach; 49 mph in Fort Sumter; and 43 mph in Charleston.

Tornado watch in portions of the Carolinas

A tornado watch was issued for South Carolina's Northeast and North Carolina's Southeast until 2 AM ET. Areas included in the watch were Myrtle Beach in South Carolina and Wilmington in North Carolina.

These tropical systems usually bring a tornado threat when they make landfall, particularly on their eastern and northern sides. These tornadoes are typically short-lived and weak but are still considered a threat.

READ ALSO: Tropical storm Isaias May be Upgraded to Become Hurricane

Isaias as a tropical storm upgraded into a hurricane

According to the National Hurricane Center, Isaias is currently in a reorganization phase; it showed a ragged eye-like characteristic as seen from the weather radars of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Around six hours ago, Isaias was still a tropical storm, but the NHC was considering upgrading it into a hurricane. Now it is officially a hurricane.

According to the NHC, in terms of their impacts, there is only a small difference between intense tropical storms and category 1 hurricanes.

Hurricane Preparedness Amid the Pandemic

According to Roy Cooper, the governor of North Carolina, shelters in the state will stay open, and social distancing will still be implemented with plenty of supply of PPE or personal protective equipment.

Gov. Cooper said that temperature checks are to be conducted in the shelters, with those showing symptoms of COVID-19 or being tested positive to be transferred to another shelter specifically for patients, so that they can properly be isolated.

READ NEXT: NOAA says Expect 6 Major Hurricanes from 19 Named Storms