Here’s a check of the latest from WataugaOnline.com.
SPECIAL EDITION: This is a special Friday afternoon weather update. We normally publish our newsletter in the morning, but with a Flood Watch, Wind Advisories and Hurricane Isaias in the forecast, we wanted you to have the latest before the weekend.
The National Weather Service in Blacksburg has issued a Flood Watch for Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Surry and Wilkes counties in North Carolina, and parts of southwest Virginia, from Saturday morning through Sunday evening. Upslope rain from Isaias’ remnants could bring widespread totals of 2 to 4 inches, with locally higher amounts of 5 to 6 inches, especially around Boone and Blowing Rock. Possible impacts include flooding at low-water crossings, overflowing creeks and streams, street flooding and landslides on slopes. Be ready to act if flooding develops, especially in flood-prone areas.
The National Weather Service has issued Wind Advisories as Isaias’ remnants arrive. In Watauga and Ashe counties, the advisory runs from 5 p.m. Saturday to 11 a.m. Sunday, with east winds of 15 to 25 mph gusting to 45 to 50 mph and isolated gusts up to 60 mph along ridgelines above 3,500 feet. In Avery County, it runs from midnight Friday night to 8 a.m. Sunday, with gusts to 46 mph. Expect downed trees and power lines, some outages, and difficult driving for high-profile vehicles, so secure outdoor objects.
Hurricane Isaias has strengthened to a Category 3 storm with 120 mph winds and is expected to make landfall on the northern Gulf Coast this evening. The National Hurricane Center warns of storm surge up to 6 to 9 feet from the Alabama-Florida line to Grayton Beach, hurricane-force winds up to 100 miles inland, and 4 to 8 inches of rain with local totals up to 15 inches. Isaias should weaken quickly and become post-tropical by late Saturday, with a tornado risk spreading into parts of the Carolinas.
Blue Ridge Energy says its crews have finished storm preparations and will monitor conditions through the weekend as heavy rain and high winds arrive. To report an outage, call PowerLine at 1-800-448-2383, text OUT to 70216 from a mobile number on the account, or use the mobile app. Social media reports are not accepted. Stay far away from downed power lines and call 1-800-451-5474 and 911 to report them, and keep flashlights, water, blankets, non-electric food and charged phones on hand. A live outage map is at BlueRidgeEnergy.com.
WEATHER
Check the current Hazardous Weather Outlook, live weather radar, and forecast for Watauga, Ashe, and Alleghany counties on our Weather page. Forecast courtesy of the National Weather Service.
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Thanks for reading — see you tomorrow.
— WataugaOnline