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Hurricane Isaias reached category 3 strength Friday, Oct. 9, preparing to bring rain, wind and a risk of life-threatening storm surge along parts of the Gulf Coast and an increasing risk of severe weather for western and central North Carolina.
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“We’re going to expect isolated chances of showers and storms mainly on Sunday (in central North Carolina),” said Chrissy Anderson, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Raleigh office. “Some could be severe, mainly across Eastern and Central North Carolina. A tornado isn’t ruled out at this point and then flooding.”
By 2 p.m. Friday, tropical storm conditions began along the northern Gulf coast with the National Hurricane Center warning “preparations against life-threatening storm surge and devastating winds” should be completed in the next few hours.
Isaias should make landfall Friday night, with water along the Alabama and Florida border expected to surge up to 9 feet. The storm, this year’s only hurricane of the season so far, is expected to bring 4-8 inches of rain across southern Alabama and the Florida panhandle with some localized areas getting up to 15 inches, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The Triangle should begin to see rain on Saturday, Oct. 10 from Isaias’ moisture as it moves inland, according to the National Weather Service’s Raleigh office.
“While Isaias is forecast to weaken as it tracks west of the Appalachians, isolated severe storms will be possible over portions of Central NC late Saturday night and Sunday,” according to a Friday weather briefing from the Raleigh office.
Most of the Triangle and Central North Carolina will see up to 2 inches of rain starting on Saturday, but that amount increases for areas further east.
“Isolated severe storms will be capable of a tornado threat late Saturday into early Sunday morning,” according to the briefing. “There is a marginal risk for severe storms capable of damaging winds and perhaps a few tornadoes Sunday into Sunday evening.”
By Friday afternoon, the Weather Prediction Center increased the potential risk of flash flooding and excessive rainfall for western North Carolina, upstate South Carolina and northeast Georgia for Sunday to moderate.
In a news release, Gov. Josh Stein urged residents to prepare for a risk of “localized flooding and gusty winds” despite Isaias not expected to make landfall in the state.
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“The best thing for North Carolinians to know right now: Prepare, don’t panic. Make sure you are signed up for local emergency alerts, prepare an emergency kit in case you lose power, and do not drive through flooded roads,” Stein said. “Take care of your loved ones, and check on your neighbors too.”
Some of the North Carolina’s emergency response and water rescue teams have been “pre-positioned” around the state to respond if needed, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation is also monitoring conditions, according to a state news release.
People should follow trusted weather sources like the National Weather Service for the latest forecast, Anderson said.
“Stay alert and make sure you have ways to get warnings if there is going to be any severe weather, and just stay weather aware this weekend because things with tropical (storms), especially, can change quickly,” she said.
Hurricane Season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, and there have been nine named storms but none have reached hurricane strength.
You pronounce Isaias like “ees-ah-EE-ahs,” according to the Tampa Bay Times.
These storms are categorized based on wind speed, which helps predict potential property damage, The News & Observer previously reported. Danger from other hazards like flooding, storm surges and tornadoes are not factored into the storm’s categorization.
According to the National Hurricane Center, storms are classified as:
The World Meteorological Organization released the list of names to use in the 2026 Atlantic tropical cyclone season. The names are:
Portions of this story were previously published in The News & Observer. This story has been updated.
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This story was originally published October 9, 2026 at 9:40 AM.