Maryland Watches As Isaias Forecast To Regain Hurricane Strength

MARYLAND — Eastern Maryland is waiting and watching to see if Tropical Storm Isaias regains hurricane strength and follows a course that would take it past Ocean City on Tuesday. The storm churned toward the Sunshine State Saturday, threatening to bring heavy rains and strong winds to coastal areas north of Miami.

After becoming a hurricane Friday, forecasters said Isaias had weakened to a tropical storm Saturday afternoon with winds dropping to 70 mph. But the 5 p.m. forecast by the National Hurricane Center said the storm is forecast to regain hurricane strength and make landfall in about 24 hours on the east coast of Florida.

Rainfall amounts of 2 to 5 inches are possible in the Ocean City area, the National Weather Service said, depending on the track of the storm.

Impacts from Isaias are expected to arrive in Ocean city later Monday night into Tuesday, bringing the potential for heavy rain, and breezy to windy conditions for about 6 to 8 hours. The latest forecast is generally for 2 to 4 inches of rain with localized amounts of 5 inches, the agency said.

An Ocean City Weather Facebook page said the center of the storm will be located just west of the city by early Tuesday afternoon, bringing with it heavy rain, flooding, heavy surf, beach erosion, and winds in the 40-60 mph range. Residents should plan for flooding, power outages, downed trees, heavy rain, and strong winds not only downtown but for those traveling out of the area.

No advisories were posted by the city government as of 7:20 p.m. Saturday.

Farther north along North Carolina's Outer Banks and southeastern Virginia, officials also were busy with preparations for a possible strike by Isaias.

North Carolina may be hit by the storm from Monday into Tuesday, where Isaias could make a second landfall after striking the Florida coast. A mandatory evacuation for North Carolina's Ocracoke Island was ordered beginning at 6 a.m. on Saturday.

As residents were stocking up in Hampton Roads, Virginia, in anticipation of Isaias, city crews were working around the clock. The Norfolk Public Works Department was busy cleaning out drains, WTKR reported Saturday. The Office of Emergency Management in Virginia Beach also was closely monitoring the storm's track and taking measure on the oceanfront and inland to prepare for the storm.

In Florida, National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham said he anticipates the worst effects of the storm were likely to be felt along Florida's Space Coast area, which refers to the area around the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Forecasters said Isaias may drop back to strong tropical storm Monday as it leaves Florida's northeastern shores.

Related: Hurricane Isaias Downgraded But Expected To Strengthen Again

— Patch Editors Paul Scicchitano in Miami and Mark Hand in Virginia contributed to this story.