Tropical Storm Isaias likely to be a hurricane as it approaches Outer Banks, Hampton Roads

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On its projected path, Hurricane Isaias is likely to bring heavy rain, winds, and rough surf to the region.

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Friday 12 a.m. Update: Isaias has strengthened to become the season’s second hurricane.

On Thursday night, Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft data indicated Isaias has maximum sustained winds of 80 miles per hour, with higher gusts. That makes it a Category 1 hurricane. 

Tropical Storm Watches are currently in place for parts of the east coast of Florida, while a Hurricane Warning is in place for the central and southeastern Bahamas.

The current track takes the center of the storm over the Bahamas, northwestward toward the southeast coast of Florida, and then turns it northward toward the southeast United States, and eventually up along the Carolina coast, an all-too-familiar path. 

According to the National Hurricane Center, Isaias is expected to be a hurricane on its approach to the Carolina coastline on Monday.

The current track is not uncommon for tropical systems.  Just last year Hurricane Dorian followed a similar path near northeast North Carolina and Coastal Virginia.

Of course, each tropical system is unique and small fluctuations in track and intensity can mean big differences in the impacts felt over a given location.

On the current forecast track, possible impacts to the region include heavy rain, strong winds, rough surf, dangerous rip currents, and some beach erosion.

All of this depends on how things develop with this storm, and this could all change, so continue to check back for updates over the coming days.

As of 11 p.m. Isaias is located about 95 miles east-southeast of Great Inagua Island. 

Hurricane Isaias broke the record as the earliest ninth Atlantic named storm. The previous record-holder was Hurricane Irene, which formed on August 7, 2005.

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