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Almost a month after Fay, another tropical storm is set to impact the Northeast.
Accuweather
Tropical Storm Isaias spawned tornadoes and dumped heavy rain as it roared up the East Coast on Tuesday morning after making landfall as a hurricane Monday night near Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina.
At least one tornado killed a person and injured several others at a mobile home park in Bertie County, North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper said. Other tornadoes were confirmed in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware, the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center said.
What was once Hurricane Isaias was downgraded to a tropical storm, though it still packed winds of 70 mph as of Tuesday morning.
The National Hurricane Center said in its 8 a.m. ET advisory Tuesday that tornadoes are most likely through midday from southeast Virginia to New Jersey.
More than 700,000 customers were without power, mostly in Virginia and North Carolina, according to poweroutage.us.
As of 10 a.m., the center of Isaias was located about 45 miles south-southeast of Annapolis, Maryland. The storm was racing north at 35 mph.
Here’s what you need to know:
- The system is forecast to become post-tropical tonight or early Wednesday.
- The center of Isaias is moving toward southeast Virginia after making landfall around 11:10 p.m. near Ocean Isle Beach.
- The threat of tornadoes is spreading north along the mid-Atlantic coast.
- The next advisory from the National Hurricane Center will be released at 11 a.m.
For first-in-the-morning updates, sign up to get USA TODAY’s Daily Briefing in your inbox. This file will be updated throughout the day.
New York City under a tornado watch
New York City major Bill de Blasio said there was a “threat of tornadoes” for New York City Tuesday due to Tropical Storm Isaias. The entire metro area is under a tornado watch until 4 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. A tornado watch means conditions are ripe for tornadoes to form.
The city is also under a tropical storm warning and a flash flood watch, the weather service said. High winds from the storm are likely across the city throughout the afternoon.
At least two tornadoes confirmed on Maryland Eastern Shore
At least two radar-confirmed tornadoes were reported on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, according to the National Weather Service.
The first was located at 6:01 a.m. near Vienna moving north near Sharptown, Hurlock and Choptank. Social media reports indicate the tornado littered Route 50 with debris and caused damage in Mardela Springs, with photos posted to Facebook showing at least one home destroyed.
A second tornado was located on radar at 7:20 a.m. just north of Girdletree heading toward Snow Hill.
– Brandon Holveck, Delaware News Journal
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More tornadoes possible as Isaias tracks north
Tornadoes are most likely through midday from southeast Virginia all the way to New Jersey, according to the 8 a.m. hurricane center forecast. Tornadoes will remain possible this afternoon and evening from southeast New York across New England.
Wicomico and Worcester counties in Maryland as well as northern Accomack County in Virginia were under a tornado warning until 7:30 a.m. Residents were warned to take shelter.
The National Weather Service advisory said severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located at 7:03 a.m. about 15 miles southeast of Pocomoke City, moving north at 65 mph. A tornado watch is in effect until noon, and at least one radar-confirmed tornado has already passed through the area, according to the NWS.
– Rose Velazquez, Salisbury (Md.) Daily Times
D.C., Baltimore could see flooding
Heavy rainfall along the East Coast will result in flash and urban flooding, some of which may be significant in North Carolina through the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast through tonight, the hurricane center said. Central and eastern North Carolina are expected to see the heaviest rainfall of 3 to 6 inches, with some areas seeing up to 8 inches. Potentially life-threatening urban flooding is possible in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and other areas along the I-95 corridor.
Power outages in North Carolina, Virginia: Duke Energy, Dominion
In North Carolina, 362,175 outages are being reported by the state’s department of public safety. The hardest hit is New Hanover County, with more than 90,000 without power. Brunswick County has almost 50,000 outages. The state compiles outage information from Duke Energy, Dominion Energy, NC Electric Cooperatives and ElectriCities. A map maintained by WTOP shows more than 136,000 outages in Virginia, with Chesapeake County and Virginia Beach seeing the greatest impact.
New Jersey, under a tropical storm warning, declares state of emergency
Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency as Isaias barrels toward New Jersey. The state is under a tropical storm warning.
Heavy rainfall up to 6 inches could impact the state along with damaging winds and possible isolated tornadoes.
A tornado watch was also issued Tuesday morning that covers most of the state and will last through 4 p.m. this afternoon. A watch, which is less urgent than a warning, means that conditions will be favorable for the development of tornadoes, according to the weather service.
– Nicholas Katzban, Bergen Record; Joshua Chung and Keith Schubert, Asbury Park Press
Okracoke evacuates
On Monday, ferry operators wrapped up evacuations from Ocracoke Island in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, moving more than 3,500 people and 1,700 vehicles off the island over four days.
Island officials were taking no chances after taking a beating less than a year ago from Hurricane Dorian. Evacuation orders were also issued for Hatteras Island north of Okracoke.
Morgan Stewart said many evacuating residents had come into the store where she works in the inland community of Kinston to buy tarps, batteries, flashlights and other supplies. “You can tell they’re worried,” said Stewart, who saw cars parked on higher ground over the weekend as she secured her boat at a marina.
Contributing: Jordan Culver, USA TODAY; Associated Press
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Multiple units of the Horry County Fire and Rescue service were on the scene of a fire involving several buildings as Isaias hit North Carolina.
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