Hurricane Isaias expected to bring some weekend rain to North Carolina
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. —
Hurricane Isaias has continued to strengthen in the Gulf. The National Hurricane Center measured the winds within the storm Thursday night at 105 mph. Isaias is a Category 2 Hurricane, and it may strengthen to a Category 3 Major Hurricane. The storm is forecast to make landfall along the Gulf Coast late Friday.
According to the National Hurricane Center, the center of Hurricane Isaias was located near latitude 25.4 North, longitude 88.4 West and moving toward the northeast near 14 miles per hour. “A turn toward the north is expected Friday,” the 11 p.m. advisory said.
Isaias became the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season on Wednesday night in the Gulf. Hurricane Isaias is expected to make landfall somewhere between Louisiana and western Florida Friday night. Heavy rain and hurricane-force winds will begin to impact the Gulf Coast on Friday. At the moment, the rain from Hurricane Isaias is expected to reach North Carolina on Saturday.
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Latest thoughts on #Isaias and local impacts for the Triad this weekend:
– Showers arrive on Saturday.
– Scattered pockets of heavier rain possible Sunday.
– Breezy at times. Gusts up to 30 mph.
– Rainfall totals still in question. Beneficial for some.
Keep checking back. pic.twitter.com/9xeSUB0eQz
— Dylan Hudler (@DylanHudlerWXII) October 8, 2026
The storm will weaken as it moves inland this weekend. North Carolinians making Saturday and Sunday plans should closely monitor the track of Isaias. There is increasing confidence that the storm could bring periods of rain to the Piedmont Triad Saturday through Sunday night, ranging from light showers to pockets of heavier rain.
The National Hurricane Center has issued Hurricane Warnings along the Gulf Coast. Now is the time to prepare and evacuate if instructed to do so ahead of the storm.
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It’s still too early to know for sure where the system will track and when, but rainy weather could impact the Carolinas as early as late Saturday morning.
How Isaias Could Impact North Carolina?
Watch the Thursday night livestream from WXII 12 News Lanie Pope discussing Isaias’s potential impact on North Carolina.
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