When will Hurricane Isaias near Florida? Here’s what the track shows
Hurricane Isaias is expected to near South Florida this weekend and is forecast to bring winds, heavy rain and possible storm surge. While there is still some uncertainty about where it’s going and how strong it will be, forecasters and state officials are urging Floridians to stock up on supplies.
As a precaution, Florida has also closed all of its state-run drive-thru and walk-up COVID-19 testing sites through Tuesday. Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said county-run sites would also abide by the closing.
The sites are expected to reopen by 8 a.m. Wednesday, according to Florida’s Department of Health.
Miami-Dade County also announced that all facilities operated by the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department, including beaches and parks, will close by 8 p.m. Friday in preparation for the storm.
Here’s what we know so far about where Isaias is and where it is going:
Where is Hurricane Isaias? How strong is it?
Hurricane Isaias is moving northwest at 12 mph and is about 80 miles south-southeast of Nassau and about 210 miles southeast of Freeport Grand Bahama Island, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 5 a.m. Saturday update.
Its maximum sustained winds are at about 85 mph with higher gusts and its hurricane-force winds are extending up to 35 miles from its center, with tropical-storm force winds extending up to 175 miles, according to the hurricane center.
The storm is no longer forecast to become a Category 2 hurricane as it crosses over the Bahamas Friday.
Where is Isaias going? Is it coming to Florida?
The forecast shows the center of Isaias moving near or over the northwestern Bahamas Saturday and near the east coast of the Florida peninsula Saturday night through Sunday.
The 11 p.m. update edged the storm’s track closer to Florida’s coast on Saturday and Sunday, where it could bring hurricane-force-winds to east Central Florida and tropical storm force winds to South Florida.
Its maximum sustained winds are expected to be between 85 and 90 mph. For it to be a Category 2, it would need to have maximum sustained winds between 96 and 110 mph.
What type of weather will Isaias bring to Florida?
While there is still uncertainty about the storm’s track and intensity, the hurricane center is predicting that South Florida to east Central Florida could see two to four inches of rain, with some spots seeing six inches, from Friday night to Monday.
This may cause “isolated flash and urban flooding, especially in low-lying and poorly drained areas,” forecasters wrote. Swells generated by the hurricane will likely cause “life-threatening” surf and rip current conditions along the east coast of Florida Saturday as well, according to the hurricane center.
The National Weather Service says the area should also expect:
▪ Strong winds. The strongest winds in Florida will be felt from Pompano Beach to Palm Bay, where there’s potential for winds from 58 mph to 73 mph. Miami-Dade and most of Broward are predicted to see winds from 39 mph to 57 mph.
▪ Possible storm surge. Homestead to West Palm Beach could see about a foot of storm surge, and Homestead to Melbourne could see flooding rain.
To learn more about what to expect in South Florida, visit https://www.miamiherald.com/news/weather/hurricane/article244624822.html
Storm warning/watches?
The tropical storm watch for southeast Florida from Ocean Reef north to South of Boca Raton and Lake Okeechobee was upgraded to a warning, and a hurricane watch was issued from Hallandale Beach to south of Boca Raton. A hurricane warning is in effect for Boca Raton to the Volusia/Flager county line.
A storm surge watch was issued for Jupiter Inlet to Ponte Vedra Beach.
▪ Hurricane warnings are in effect for the northwestern Bahamas, which includes the Abacos Islands, Andros Island, Grand Bahamas Island and Bimini; and the central Bahamas, including Cat Island, the Exumas, Long Island, Rum Cay, and San Salvador.
This story was originally published July 30, 2020 at 3:34 PM.
