UPDATES: Tropical Storm Isaias skirts Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. – Isaias is near hurricane strength early Monday as it approaches the Carolinas, just a day after bands of heavy rain from the tropical storm lashed Florida’s east coast as state officials dealt with surging cases of the coronavirus.

Follow below for updates:

Noon

Parts of the Carolinas will see 3-6 inches of rain from Isaias.

The NWS said flash and urban flooding could be significant.

“Roads will likely be flooded, don’t drive through them!” the NWS tweeted.

11:45 a.m.

Weather officials say Isaias is expected to make landfall as a hurricane along the Carolina coast.

“(The storm) is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rainfall from the eastern Carolinas to the Mid-Atlantic coast,” the NWS tweeted.

11:20 a.m.

Isaias is near hurricane strength early Monday as it approaches the Carolinas, just a day after bands of heavy rain from the tropical storm lashed Florida’s east coast.

Isaias weakened from a hurricane to a tropical storm Saturday but still hit Florida with heavy rain and flooding as state officials dealt with surging cases of the coronavirus.

The National Hurricane Service said Monday that the storm is growing stronger again as it moves toward the Carolinas with maximum sustained winds around 70 mph. Both North and South Carolina are due for up to 6 inches of rain, storm surge and possible tornadoes Monday.

10 a.m.

News 6 partner WJXT-TV in Jacksonville reported that Flagler County’s rebuilt State Road A1A and oft-battered pier survived the opening challenges of what’s expected to be an active storm season.

Isaias did not cause any widespread damage across Central Florida.

9:30 a.m.

The National Weather Service reminded beachgoers that rip currents can be deadly, even after a tropical storm or hurricane have left the area.

“Rip currents and rough surf before and after the storms passing are extremely dangerous to beacgoers,” the NWS tweeted.

9 a.m.

When the surf settles, Tropical Storm Isaias could unearth untold numbers of endangered sea turtle eggs and hatchlings during a peak time for turtle nesting, according to News 6 partner Florida Today.

But Florida wildlife officials urge those who come across exposed turtle eggs or stranded baby turtles to not collect them. It’s better, they say, to call those trained and permitted in how to deal with sea turtle eggs and hatchlings, or in most cases to just let nature take its course.

Read more details here.

8 a.m.

Isaias remains a tropical storm as continues on a path up the east coast.

Sustained winds are 70 mph, and the storm is moving north at 13 mph.

The storm could restrengthen into a hurricane.

7 a.m.

After dodging major impacts from Tropical Storm Isaias, Central Florida will see a 50% chance of rain as tropical moisture remains in place.

Isaias remained off the Florida coast early Monday on a projected path toward the Carolinas.

6 a.m.

Isaias is churning up the surf off Central Florida’s coast.

Rip currents are expected to be dangerous as the storm, now near hurricane strength, treks north toward the Carolinas.

If you’re headed to the beach, be safe!

5:20 a.m.

Isaias is forecast to strengthen back to a hurricane on a path toward the Carolinas.

The 5 a.m. update from the National Hurriance shows the eye of the storm sitting off Central Florida, heading north at 9 mph.

The tropical storm is packing 70 mph winds, with gusts of 85 mph.

5 a.m. MONDAY

Isaias weakened from a hurricane to a tropical storm Saturday but still hit Florida with heavy rain and some flooding, although Central Florida was spared of any damage.

The National Hurricane Service said early Monday that the storm was centered about 330 miles south of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The storm was moving north-northwest at 9 mph.

Both North and South Carolina could see up to 6 inches of rain, storm surge and possible tornadoes Monday.

11 p.m. SUNDAY

As of 11 p.m. on Sunday Tropical Storm Isaias has shifted more to the east and Florida is still out of the cone.

The National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Isaias is expected to be near hurricane strength when it reaches the Carolinas.

8 p.m.

Meteorologists said the tropical storm continues to move north-northwestward just offshore of the east-central Florida Coast.

4:45 p.m.

The latest update from the National Hurricane Center shows Florida is out of the cone. Tropical Storm Isaias is about 65 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral and is moving north-northwest at 9 mph. Maximum sustained winds are at 70 mph. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Sebastian Inlet to Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina.

4 p.m.

The shelter that opened at Viera Regional Community Center in Brevard County Sunday morning has closed after only one person showed up. Steps were taken to address that resident’s needs.

3:30 p.m.

The last remaining open shelter in Volusia County closed because no one showed up.

2:15 p.m.

Flagler County officials announced that they will not order evacuations or open shelters because they expect the impacts from the storm to be relatively minimal. Emergency management leaders are on standby and ready to change their plans should that be needed.

“We always prepare for the worst, and modify those plans as information updates,” said Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord. “The forecasted weather has improved, and it doesn’t warrant opening a shelter.”

2 p.m.

The latest update from the National Hurricane Center, issued just before 2 p.m. Sunday, showed Isaias 90 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral while moving north-northwest at 9 mph. It continues to move slowly off the east Central Florida coast with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, allowing it to keep its tropical storm status.

1 p.m. Volusia County closes shelters

Volusia County has closed all three of its shelters after few residents showed up.

The one remaining shelter at Galaxy Middle School in Deltona is staying open to accommodate general and special needs populations. This also includes residents who can’t remain in their homes and have no other place to go.

The pet-friendly shelter is located at 2400 Eustace Ave.

The county had opened three other shelters in DeLand at 8 a.m. today – at the Volusia County Fairgrounds, DeLand High School and Freedom Elementary School.

Officials said that around noon Sunday, all shelters were practically empty.

11 a.m. track update

The latest track update from the National Hurricane Center puts the Isaias off Central Florida’s coast around Sunday night overnight into Monday morning. The storm has slowed to 8 mph but is still packing 65 mph winds and gusts up to 75 mph.

As of 11 a.m. Tropical Storm Isaias was 55 miles southeast of Fort Pierce.

10:00 a.m. Shelter opens in Brevard County

As Tropical Storm Isaias moves up the Florida coast bringing with it strong winds and rain, some Central Florida shelters have begun to open.

A shelter at the Viera Community Center in Melbourne will open Sunday at 11 a.m. for anyone who feels unsafe where they are.

“The shelter will be laid out to provide for Centers For Disease Control-recommended social distancing,” a news release said. “Health screenings, temperature checks and Personal Protection Equipment(PPE) will be in place, but those seeking shelter are also asked to bring their own PPE, such as face masks, gloves and hand sanitizer, for personal use.”

Residents going to a shelter will need to take their own supplies, including bedding, folding chairs or sleeping bags.

Officials in Brevard County also remind residents to bring any needed medications; changes of clothing and sturdy shoes; personal hygiene items; and entertainment items, like games, cards, books, or magazines.

Pets are welcome at the shelter.

8:20 a.m. Tropical storm conditions close to east coast of Florida

Isaias dropped heavy rain onto the Bahamas as it moved its way over the island nation, edging closer to Florida. The NHC released it’s 8 a.m. advisory, saying it was about 155 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral. Forecasters say Brevard County will soon see heavy tropical downpours. Strong winds combined with excess rain could produce 2 ft. to 4 ft. of storm surge flooding above ground level along Florida’s east coast.

7:28 a.m. Isaias moves over the Bahamas

As Isaias moves through the last leg of its journey through the Caribbean, the dilapidated storm brings heavy downpours and flooding to the Bahamas. The slow-moving tropical development still packing a punch with an intense flare-up of lightning storms near its center. Storms stemming from Isaias are making their way to the coast of Brevard County.

6:22 a.m. Hurricane-force wind gusts could be possible along Central Florida’s east coast

Though Tropical Storm Isaias isn’t expected to strengthen into a hurricane again as it approaches Central Florida, News 6 meteorologist Jonathan Kegges says the storm could bring hurricane-force wind gusts up to 74 mph could be possible along the east coast. As of 630 a.m. Sunday, Tropical Storm Isaias was forecasted to make landfall in Brevard County in the evening.

5:04 A.M. Florida’s east coast now under tropical storm warning

Isaias remained a tropical storm under the National Hurricane Center’s 5 a.m. advisory. Forecasters replaced the hurricane warning along the east coast of Florida with a tropical storm warning as the development continued to make way for Florida. Tropical Storm Isaias was spinning 45 miles northeast of Ft. Lauderdale and located about 45 miles southeast of West Palm Beach. The NHC extended its tropical storm warning to Surf City, North Carolina as Isaias track forecasts the storm to head up the U.S. east coast.

2:12 a.m. Isaias slightly slows down

The latest update from the NHC, issued around 2 a.m. Sunday, showed Isaias about 70 miles east southeast of Fort Lauderdale and about 90 miles southeast of West Palm Beach, moving only a few miles closer to South Florida since the agency’s last advisory. The storm was packing 70 mph winds maintaining its tropical storm status. Isaias slowed down slightly, moving northwest at 8 mph, forecasters said.

1:36 a.m. Florida’s east coast starts to see first rain bands from Isaias

Officials are watching the approaching storm with a wary eye because it threatens to snarl efforts to contain the coronavirus in areas where cases are surging. Isaias was still a tropical storm as of the National Hurricane Center’s 11 p.m. advisory but is expected to regain hurricane strength as it tracks closer to Florida. Gov. Ron DeSantis said Floridians would start seeing impacts overnight, and warned residents to take the storm seriously. Isaias is expected to travel along the state’s east coast throughout Sunday and then track up or just off the Eastern seaboard early in the week.

11 p.m. Isaias continues slow churn toward Florida

The latest update from the National Hurricane Center, issued around 11 p.m. Saturday, showed Isaias about 80 miles east southeast of Fort Lauderdale and about 105 miles southeast of West Palm Beach. The storm was packing 70 mph winds and was moving northwest at 9 mph, forecasters said.

News 6 meteorologists break down the 11 p.m. advisory here:

10:15 p.m. What to expect as storm nears Florida

News 6 meteorologist Samara Cokinos takes a county-by-county look at what Central Florida can expect to see as Tropical Storm Isaias moves closer to the state.

The associated press contributed to this report.