Rain and Flooding The heaviest rain from Isaias will hit southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, so the greatest threat of flash flooding is expected there. The hardest hit areas could see 4 to 8 inches of rain, with up to 15 inches in some spots. The storm’s rapid movement plus dry ground will prevent flash flooding from spreading too far across the rest of the Southeast, but significant impacts are still possible in limited areas. Most locations can expect 1 to 3 inches, but localized totals of up to 5 inches are possible. Showers will increase along the coast on Friday and then continue to soak the region as they move inland over the weekend. Friday: Saturday: Tropical storm-force winds of 39 mph or stronger, with higher gusts, could reach southeastern Louisiana after sunrise and parts of Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida panhandle Friday afternoon. Hurricane-force winds of 74 mph or higher are likely Friday night into early Saturday morning, when Isaias makes landfall. Numerous power outages and downed trees are possible from southeast Mississippi to southern Alabama and the western Panhandle. Wind gusts of 30 to 50 mph could extend inland across parts of central and northern Alabama, northern and western Georgia, and northeastern Mississippi on Saturday. This could be enough to cause power outages, at least isolated or scattered, and topple some trees, particularly in Alabama. The largest surge of dangerous and life-threatening storm surge will occur near and just east of where the center of the storm makes landfall Friday night. Locations on the Alabama coast and the western Florida Panhandle could experience flooding of 5 to 7 feet above normally dry ground if the maximum rise occurs during high tide. This could flood roads and damage structures near the coast. Isaias will produce at least a few tornadoes within its rain bands Friday night into Saturday. Areas east of the center of the storm will be at greatest risk for these tornadoes. Tropical tornadoes tend to be short-lived and sometimes appear without warning. The greatest tornado threat is expected in the areas shaded in darker orange on the maps below. Friday: Saturday:
