The downgraded tropical system known as Isaias is churning off the Florida coast and is expected to make his way to New York early this week.
After weakening from hurricane status, Tropical Storm Isaias is expected to cruise along the Eastern Seaboard toward the north and northeast.
The latest storm track has Isaias’ center making landfall as a tropical storm in North Carolina early Tuesday morning. But unlike earlier forecasts, the storm is center is expected to stay inland, weakening further as it climbs over land to the north-northeast.
What does that mean for New York City? Rain, and lots of it — the National Hurricane Center expects that Isaias will dump between 2 and 6 inches of rain across the New York City area between Tuesday and Wednesday.
The city’s Emergency Management department said Sunday it’s bracing for the worst that Isaias could deliver — with winds of up to 50 mph and the potential for flooding in coastal and low-lying areas resulting from several inches of rain.
Emergency Management also expressed concerns about coastal flooding associated with Isaias, particularly near the South Street Seaport in Manhattan. As a result, the agency deployed on Sunday interim flood protection measures including sandbag barriers and water-filled “Tiger Dams” along a mile-long area from Wall Street to Catherine Slip, and South Street to Water Street.
“NYC Emergency Management has been closely monitoring this system since before it became a tropical storm, and we’re gearing up for any possible impacts the city may face as a result of the storm,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Deanne Criswell. “We encourage New Yorkers to make a family emergency plan, pack a Go Bag, including hand sanitizer and extra face coverings, charge cell phones, and have an emergency supply kit to be ready for any kind of emergency.”
Isaias is predicted to be the second tropical system to impact New York during the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1. Tropical Storm Fay hit our area on July 10, dumping more than two inches of rain and causing minor flooding.
Check with amNY.com in the days ahead for further updates on Isaias and storm preparations.
This story was updated on Aug. 2 at 10:05 a.m.
