From the HERE City State Desk
Tropical Storm Isaias is expected to bring rounds of heavy rain to western North Carolina this weekend, raising the risk of flash flooding in the mountains.
Isaias formed in the Gulf on Wednesday as the ninth named storm of the Atlantic season and is expected to become the season’s first hurricane. Forecasters expect landfall somewhere between far eastern Louisiana and western Florida late Friday into early Saturday, after which the storm is forecast to move north and east.
The current track keeps the center west of western North Carolina, which would put the region in line for heavy rain starting Saturday and continuing into Sunday. Rain could pile up Saturday night and Sunday. Winds flowing up the mountains could produce higher totals along and southeast of the Blue Ridge Escarpment.
A track farther west would lower rainfall totals in the region, while a track farther east would increase the impact.
Federal forecasters put the flash flood risk across North Carolina at marginal to slight, or 5% to 15%, with the greatest risk in parts of western North Carolina and along the coast near Wilmington. Heavy rain is expected across much of the Southeast from Friday through the weekend, with flash and urban flooding and isolated river flooding possible.
Residents should watch for updated forecasts as the storm’s track becomes clearer.