Isaias Now A Hurricane, Watches Issued For East Central Florida

The following information is accurate as of 11 A.M. EST. Updates will be provided as they are made available Daytona Beach, FL - As predicted by forecasters, the track for the ninth named storm of the 2020 season has shifted, moving the cone farther towards the east coast of Florida. And the latest observations show that Tropical Storm Isaias is now at Category 1 Hurricane strength, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph. According to the National Hurricane Center, reconnaisance from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft and radar in the Bahamas found Hurricane Isaias moving toward the northwest around 16 mph. Northwestward movement with some decrease in forward speed is expected for the day followed by a turn toward the north-northwest. 11 AM EDT 7/31: A Hurricane Watch and Tropical Storm Warning have been issued for portions of the Florida east coast. More info: https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb #Isaias pic.twitter.com/i31BRINMnf— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) July 31, 2020 Forecasters predict that the center of Isaias will continue to move near  the Southeastern Bahamas today. Later tonight, Isaias is expected to move near the Central Bahamas before it moves near or over the Northwestern Bahamas on Saturday and near the east coast of the state Saturday afternoon through Sunday. Hurricane-force winds were found to extend outward up to 35 miles from the center of Isaias with tropical-storm-force winds extending outward up to 205 miles.  A hurricane watch is also in effect, which extends from the Volusia-Brevard line south towards Miami. Volusia and Flagler have yet to be placed under a watch or warning.  News Daytona Beach will monitor the situation and provide updates once they are available.