Expect heavy rain + high winds this weekend from Hurricane Isaias

2 edited 2 — Hurricane Isaias is now a Category 3 hurricane. (National Weather Service)

Hurricane Isaias is expected to make landfall on the Alabama coast between 8PM Friday night and 1AM Saturday morning, with life-threatening storm surge, rainfall, flooding and high winds. It will then spread heavy rain and wind inland over the Southeast through weekend.

According to the National Weather Service in Huntsville, the Huntsville area will see a medium to high chance of impactful gusty winds as Isaias moves rapidly northward after making landfall, and “a low-medium risk of flooding due to heavy rainfall.”

As far as tornadoes are concerned, the NWS reports a marginal risk of thunderstorms producing a tornado or two Saturday in north central and northeast Alabama.

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The hurricane’s effects on North Alabama

North Alabama is expected to see up to half an inch of rainfall Saturday. While tornadoes are not likely, wind gusts as high as 35 mph are probable. This could cause power outages in the area.

“Huntsville Utilities is closely monitoring the weather situation and preparing for Hurricane Isaias’ impacts in our area and on our customers.

Obviously, there are some things we can’t do until the storm arrives, but crews are ready to respond when the time comes. This includes our electric line crews, tree clearing crews, etc. Our approach is always, ‘plan for the worst, hope for the best.'”

_{Todd Long, Huntsville Utilities}

Some safety measures to follow:

Secure Outdoor Items: Bring inside or tightly secure anything that can be picked up by 40 mph wind gusts, such as patio furniture, garbage cans, potted plants and Halloween decorations.
Park Vehicles Safely: If possible, park cars in garages or away from large trees. Saturated soil combined with high winds makes mature trees highly susceptible to falling.
Clear Drainage Paths: Ensure your gutters, downspouts and nearby storm drains are clear of leaves and debris to prevent localized flash flooding around your home.
Prepare for Outages: Widespread electrical outages are highly anticipated. Charge all cell phones, tablets, external battery packs and medical devices.
Gather Emergency Lighting: Locate flashlights and fresh batteries. Avoid using candles due to the risk of accidental fires.
Food and Water: Ensure you have enough non-perishable food and water for your family (and pets) to last at least 3 days in case utility restoration takes time.
Keep Your Fridge Cold: Turn your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings today. If you lose power, keep the doors closed as much as possible to preserve food.
Stay Off the Roads: Travel will become highly hazardous after midnight Friday and through Saturday morning. Do not drive through flooded roadways.