Isaias Recovery Continues as More Than 150,000 Remain Without Power
Mother Nature is lending a hand in the cleanup efforts across the southeastern U.S. after a Category 2 hurricane slammed into the Florida Panhandle. Here is a look at what you can expect if you are cleaning up after this storm.
Thousands Still Without Power in the South - Will Weather Cooperate with Restoration?
A large portion of the Gulf Coast, the Florida Panhandle, and the Southeast is cleaning up after Hurricane Isaias came ashore near Destin, Florida, packing winds of 105 mph. The high winds, flooding rainfall, and storm surge created a mess as the storm made its way to the north, impacting the Southeast, the southern Appalachians, and the mid-Atlantic throughout the weekend.
Isaias is now a mere tropical wind and rainstorm as it begins to move offshore. The good news for those putting life back together is that the weather is forecast to be favorable in the coming days.
The Florida Gulf Coast experienced the worst impacts from what was the first hurricane of the Atlantic season. A top wind gust of 117 mph was notched near Oriole Beach. Gusty conditions knocked out power to almost a million customers during the peak of the high winds. As of Monday afternoon, there were still roughly 155,000 customers without power in Florida and Alabama.
The heavy rain associated with this storm has also left a mess. The highest rainfall belonged to a gauge in Bellwood, Alabama, coming in at 12.97 inches. Forecasters are warning that the floodwaters could be slow to recede in the hardest-hit areas. While no rain is expected in the near future, it takes time for the water levels to drop. This slow process will inevitably lead to prolonged road closures, especially in low-lying areas. The proliferation of downed trees and power lines is also making it challenging for repair crews to reach some areas.
Dry Weather Will Aid Cleanup Efforts
The latest models offer hope that crews will be able to make some progress this week. It took time for Isaias to clear out, meaning that some areas were hit with repeated rounds of rain over the weekend. Much drier weather is in the forecast this week, offering hope that all of the power outages will be resolved shortly.
Unfortunately, temperatures are also warming up as the rain and clouds move out. Pensacola is forecast to see highs near the 90-degree mark through the end of the week when the heat finally breaks. Mobile, Alabama, will also see highs bounce around in the upper 80s until 70s take over this weekend. The warmer temperatures by the end of the week could present challenges for residents and businesses still without power.
While little to no rain is in the short-term forecast, flooding is expected to linger for another day or two. Current models show that water levels will remain at or above minor flood levels through the end of the day Tuesday.
The mass of drier air will expand into the mid-Atlantic and the Northeast by Monday and Tuesday. This corner of the country will also get in on the warmer temperatures by Tuesday. In fact, some parts of the Northeast could see near-record warmth on this day.
For instance, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, will jump from highs in the 50s on Sunday to readings that inch up into the low 80s on Tuesday. Moving farther east, New York City will enjoy a beautiful day on Tuesday with a forecast high of 76 degrees under mostly sunny skies. Wednesday's forecast is calling for highs in the low 80s in the Big Apple. This reading is almost 20 degrees warmer than what the metro area saw on Sunday as Isaias was making its presence known.
Enjoy the warmth while it lasts in the Northeast. Forecasters are predicting notably cooler temperatures by the weekend. Stay tuned for all of the latest.
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