Hurricane Isaias Slowly Getting Better Organized & Moving Steady
Good morning everyone. As expected, Hurricane Isaias quickly blew away the meager expectations from other sources, and is now packing 80mph sustained winds. We have a lot going on in terms of our tropics and the local forecast, so let’s get into it.
SATELLITE
Today is obviously a transition day while we await our next push of very warm to hot & muggy air. Expect cloudy skies, AM showers till some time between 9-10 (west to east), and highs in the upper 70’s to low 80’s. This is much needed rain, so let Mother Nature do what it has to do because those lawns and plants are thirsty.
REGIONAL RADAR
Tomorrow the sun and heat returns. Saturday is probably looking like the best day of the next 5 days in terms of sunshine. We’re looking at a precip-free day with highs in the upper 80’s to near 90.
On Sunday, we begin watching the ingredients come together that’ll help Isaias make a close call or “worse” along the East Coast. Those ingredients (not related to Isaias), will help spark some some showers and storms up and down the East Coast. Keep an eye to the sky, but don’t cancel your outdoor plans. Just make adjustments as or if needed. Highs Sunday a muggy upper 80’s to near 90.
LOCAL RADAR NEW YORK CITY
The same goes for Monday, with the chance of showers & storms with highs a muggy upper 80’s to maybe low 90’s. Tropical moisture at this point will be nipping at our heels at this point, so expect those dew points to reach Florida/Carribean levels.
LOCAL RADAR PHILADELPHIA
As for Hurricane Isaias, it hasn’t done anything unpredictable in my eyes at this point. We had the strengthening past tropical storm status easily, and it remains on this steady path towards the western Bahamas. Isaias is in the process of getting better organized, and I think once it does, we’ll be looking at a Category 2/3 system maximum out of this.
There is good news and bad news with this system. The bad news is that there’s never really any good news when it comes to dealing with or getting hit by a hurricane; but the good news is that it’s on the move and will continue to move aside from a brief slowdown during the turn northward.
For our local impacts, whether it interacts with Florida or North Carolina, it’ll really be moving at that point once it nears our area. That means in a worst case scenario, any impact would be limited to several hours as opposed to a long lasting barrage and biblical flash flooding.
The timing so far in terms of any minor to full impact, remains some time between Tuesday and Wednesday. Path will be key, and we’re not in a position yet to talk about exact impacts. Depending on the final path, it can be anything from just high surf and a cloudy, breezy day, to full-on tropical storm conditions.
Stay tuned!
MANY THANKS TO TROPICAL TIDBITS FOR THE USE OF MAPS
Please note that with regards to any tropical storms or hurricanes, should a storm be threatening, please consult your local National Weather Service office or your local government officials about what action you should be taking to protect life and property.