(CNN) –– Isaiah impacted North Carolina on Monday night, causing inland and coastal flooding and the storm is expected to continue to advance down the east coast of U.S.
Isaías hit sustained winds of 85 mph (130 km / h) on Monday, making him qualify as a Category 1 hurricane, before making landfall near Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, around 11:10 pm ET. , according to the National Hurricane Center. It was downgraded to a tropical storm early Tuesday morning, with maximum sustained winds reduced to 70 mph (110 km / h).
But Isaiah still carries dangerous and life-threatening conditions as he makes his way down the coast, CNN meteorologist Michael Guy said.
(Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
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Wind and water with “one or two foot (30 to 60 centimeters) waves” forced the closure of a bridge in Sunset Beach, North Carolina, Monday night, local police said in Facebook. Jessi Viox told CNN that the streets of Holden Beach turned into rivers as the water rose rapidly.
“Preparing for the second round,” Viox said. “The center has moved around us and now comes the final part.”
Before Isaiah made landfall, the top of the Apache Pier Pavilion was uplifted by the wind.
Nearly 245,000 users were without power after the storm hit shore, according to PowerOutage.US. And according to the Horry County Fire Department in South Carolina, several structures on Ocean Isle Beach were reported to be on fire.
A hurricane warning was in effect from the South Santee River area in South Carolina to Surf City, North Carolina, meaning hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, the National Hurricane Center said.
The storm surge in some parts of the hurricane warning area is expected to last up to 1.5 meters.
After hitting the Carolinas, Isaiah is forecast to gradually weaken as he leaves strong winds along the east coast on Tuesday, including in Washington, Philadelphia and New York.
The storm could carry the strongest winds to New York City since Superstorm Sandy nearly eight years ago, said Ross Dickman, the meteorologist in charge of the National Service office of the Weather In New York.
“The impact of the Isaias wind and floods will be similar to what the city has experienced with some of the strongest coastal storms,” such as the so-called nor’easters, “but we have not seen one as strong in many years,” he said. .
Curfews and evacuations
A curfew was ordered Monday in communities on the east coast of North Carolina, such as Cape Fear, when Isaiah approached, according to CNN affiliate WWAY-TV. Most curfews started around 5 and 6 p.m. on Monday and ended between 6 and 9 a.m. on Tuesday.
Elsewhere on the coast, citizens and tourists were evacuated. The North Carolina Department of Transportation evacuated more than 3,000 people from Ocracoke Island on Monday, CNN affiliate WAVY-TV reported.
“The most important thing is to get out of danger if you are told to evacuate. Try to have a plan to stay with friends or family outside the danger zone, “Governor Roy Cooper said Monday.
On the mainland, citizens were storing supplies for the storm.
“You never know. We have been hit with worse surprises, so there really never are too many preparations that one can make, ”Eli Thompson of Avon told WAVY-TV.
Strong winds of up to 70 mph (110 km / h) are expected that could knock down power lines and trees. Tornadoes are also possible in North and South Carolina, each state’s emergency management department said.
Prepare for the storm
A tropical storm warning is in effect for much of the east coast and the Atlantic after Isaiah hit the Carolinas on Monday night.
A tropical storm warning has been extended north to Stonington, Maine. A warning south of the Savannah River on the Georgia-South Carolina border has been discontinued.
Storm surge warnings were in effect for Edisto Beach, SC, Cape Fear, NC; Pamlico and Albemarle in North Carolina, and Oregon Inlet, North Carolina, up to the Virginia border.
Mid-Atlantic states should see the effects of the storm on Tuesday in Delaware Bay, the Tidal Potomac River, Chesapeake Bay and Long Island Sound.
By Wednesday morning, New Hampshire and Maine will see rain as a result of Isaiah.
In Maryland, the storm’s impending arrival prompted Governor Larry Hogan to suspend covid-19 testing operations at community sites Tuesday.
New York City is implementing interim flood measures in lower Manhattan, including the installation of temporary barriers to prevent flooding.
Joe Sutton contributed to this report.
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