OAK ISLAND, NC — Newly formed Hurricane Isaias – the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2026 season is currently tracking across the Gulf of America and is projected to make landfall along the northern Gulf Coast late Friday or early Saturday.
While the core system targets areas further west, its expansive moisture feed is expected to reach across the Southeast, bringing wet weather to parts of North and South Carolina through the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).
Long-time regional observers may recognize the storm’s designation: the name Isaias is recycled from the 2020 Atlantic hurricane rotation. During that 2020 season, a similarly named system made a direct impact on North Carolina as a Category 1 hurricane near Ocean Isle Beach on August 3, 2020.
Local Expectations for the Carolinas
As Isaias tracks inland along the Gulf Coast, secondary moisture streaming ahead of and alongside the system will influence our regional weather patterns heading into the weekend:
Rainfall Forecast: Current meteorological projections indicate that this 2026 system will bring our area rain, predicted around 3″ to 4″
Forecast Adjustments: Readers should note that that amount is subject to change as meteorologists bring us updates and refine the track over the next 24 to 48 hours.
Timing: Damp conditions and passing showers are expected to develop heading into the weekend, with the primary window for heavier precipitation stretching through Saturday and Sunday.
Residents across the region are advised to keep a close eye on incoming forecasts from reputable meteorologists as the National Hurricane Center and local weather teams release updated advisory totals.
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