Hurricane Isaias makes landfall in North Carolina as storm strengthens

Hurricane Isaias made landfall at 11:10 p.m. at Ocean Isle Beach at a Category 1 storm and is expected to quickly move through central and eastern North Carolina as it barrels up the East Coast.

After fluctuating between a tropical storm and a hurricane throughout Monday, the storm made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds at 85 miles per hour.

The hurricane is expected to move up the Interstate 95 corridor through central North Carolina into Tuesday, bringing heavy rainfall and potentially damaging winds. About 3 to 6 inches of rain is expected along the corridor, according to a National Weather Service update at 9 p.m. Monday.

But most rain and wind should have left the state by 9 a.m. Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

Minor to moderate flooding is expected from the storm, said the NWS. Flash flood warnings were issued for Edgecombe, Franklin, Harnett, Johnston, Nash, Sampson, Wake and Wilson counties through 6:15 a.m.

The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings in New Hanover, Pender, Brunswick and Columbus counties until 10:30 p.m.

Thirty counties across the state are under a tornado watch until 6 a.m. Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

Wake and Johnston counties remain under a tropical storm warning while Durham and Orange counties are on a flash flood watch. A flood warning is in effect for Johnston County too.

At least 207,000 power outages have been reported in the Wilmington area in Brunswick and New Hanover counties, as of 1:45 a.m., according to the N.C. Department of Public Safety. More than 2,000 outages have been reported in the Triangle, Duke Energy reported, as of 11 p.m.

“The high winds and heavy rains associated with this powerful tropical storm are expected to cause widespread power outages along the coastline and to points well inland,” a Duke Energy update stated. “Updates on the estimated times of restoration may be delayed until the storm clears the area.”

Earlier Monday, N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper warned that residents should be prepared, especially as the storm, then a tropical storm, was expected to strengthen as it approached the Carolinas.

“As this storm closes in, we expect it to increase in intensity,” Cooper said at a news conference. “There’s a potential for dangerous hurricane force winds as it makes its way towards landfall later tonight. That means we must be on high alert.”

While evacuations were ordered from Hatteras Island in Dare County and Ocracoke Island in Hyde County, state emergency management director Mike Sprayberry said Monday afternoon that he didn’t expect other evacuations.

Brunswick, Duplin, Jones and Scotland counties have opened storm shelters, according to the state Department of Emergency Management.

“We are comfortable at this point that we’ll have enough room for people and still be able to social distance,” Cooper said Monday afternoon.

Hurricane Isaias has intensified and eased since it formed. After it passed over the Bahamas over the weekend, Isaias weakened to a tropical storm. It has since recovered its strength.

This story was originally published August 3, 2020 at 11:25 PM with the headline "Hurricane Isaias makes landfall in North Carolina as storm strengthens."