Tropical Storm Isaias On Track To Bring Heavy Rain To NJ

NEW JERSEY — Tropical Storm Isaias is continuing on a path that is anticipated to bring heavy rain and wind to New Jersey on Tuesday, according to the Sunday morning forecast from the National Hurricane Center.

Isaias was downgraded to a tropical storm on Saturday afternoon, and the 11 a.m. Sunday update from the National Hurricane Center said it was showing no signs of reorganizing as it headed for the Florida coast. A wind shear off the Florida coast has affected the pace and strength of the storm, the center said.

"Since Isaias has not shown any signs of re-organizing overnight, it appears that the window of opportunity for it to re-strengthen is closing," the Sunday statement said.

The storm was still off the Florida coast as of 11 a.m. Sunday and was moving north-northwest but had slowed to 8 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. The slow north-northwestward motion was anticipated to continue into Monday but the storm is expected to turn north by Monday morning.

Once it turns north, it's expected to pick up speed as it moves northeast across the mid-Atlantic states Tuesday. Isaias could still be packing sustained winds of 65 mph when it moves through New Jersey on Tuesday, the center forecasters say.

The 11 a.m. Sunday forecast estimates the storm will hug the coast as it moves north, with tropical storm-force winds starting to be felt in New Jersey by 8 a.m. Tuesday, and heavy rain is expected to accompany them, with 2 to 4 inches of rain predicted across the state.

Hurricane warnings along the Florida coast have been reduced to tropical storm warnings, and tropical storm watches have been issued for parts of Georgia and South and North Carolina, with landfall now anticipated for the Carolinas. The hurricane center also is continuing to warn about the possibility of dangerous storm surge.

For New Jersey, rip currents and dangerous surf conditions are likely as the storm moves north. Beachgoers should follow lifeguards instructions.

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