By admin 
Tropical Storm Isaias formed in the Gulf Wednesday morning. The storm has strengthened close to hurricane strength as of 5 P.M.; it has 65 miles per hour winds.
Read more Sunshine sticks around through the week before rain returns this weekend in central NC
Rapid intensification thanks to warm Gulf waters has Isaias becoming the first Atlantic hurricane this season late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. Isaias would also be the first Atlantic hurricane since October of 2025.
The official track from the National Hurricane Center has it getting as strong as a Category 2 hurricane before moving ashore somewhere between eastern Louisiana and the western panhandle of Florida.
They’ll see gusty winds, heavy rain, storm surge, and a tornado risk along and east of the storm on the Gulf coast.
Read more Hurricane Isaias growing a little stronger: What it means for Central NC and the Southeast
Whatever happens to the system in the Gulf, it is also likely that the remnants of the system and the moisture make it up to the Carolinas later this weekend to increase our rain chances. The best chance for North Carolina to get rain from the remnants of Isaias is Sunday with rain departing Monday.
It’s still very early in the life and forecast for this tropical system and many changes are likely in the current conditions and forecast track in the coming days. Stay tuned for and expect changes the rest of this week.
Read more Rain chances increase by weekend in central NC, as strengthening Isaias looms in the Gulf