By Jeff Goldman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
All or part of 11 New Jersey counties are now under a tropical storm warning as Isaias crawls up the Eastern Seaboard, preparing to lash the state with up to six inches of rain and possible flash flooding and storm surge beginning as soon as late Monday night.
Isaias was just off the coast of northeast Florida on Monday morning, about 730 miles south-southwest of Atlantic City. Its maximum winds are 70 mph — just below the 74 mph that would make it a category 1 hurricane — as it meandered north at 9 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Most of Monday will be fine — sunny with temps ranging from the mid 80s along the Jersey Shore to the low 90s inland — before rain starts either late tonight or during the overnight into Tuesday. Isaias is expected to batter the coast of northeastern South Carolina and southern North Carolina as category 1 hurricane later Monday before weakening a bit into a tropical storm again and picking up speed on its journey north.
Tuesday will be a mess in New Jersey, with three to six inches of ran in the forecast as well as 45 to 55 mph winds along the Shore that could gust as high as 75 mph. Tropical storm force winds are expected to arrive somewhere between mid and late morning.
Flash flood watches are in effect for most of the state and forecasters are also concerned that up to 1 to 3 feet of storm surge could force evacuations. Power outages, of course, are also a possibility along with moderate property damage. There is also a possibility tornadoes could develop, the National Weather Service said in in its morning forecast discussion.
Camden, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris, northwestern Burlington, Salem and Somerset remain under a tropical storm watch. Those counties could be hit with 40 to 50 mph winds that gust to up to 70 mph, though there’s a greater threat of flash flooding in those inland counties than along the Shore.
Isaias will push away from our area Tuesday night, though showers and thunderstorms are possible through the overnight.
Mainly dry, sunny and slightly cooler weather will return on Wednesday and stick around through at least Friday. Highs each day will be in the mid 80s.
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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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