Isaias remnants to soak DC region Sunday as hurricane nears Gulf Coast landfall

The Washington region will not feel a hurricane from Isaias, but meteorologists say the storm’s remnants will bring a wet, breezy Sunday after it comes ashore on the Gulf Coast.

Isaias was a Category 3 hurricane with 120 mph winds Friday morning, and the National Hurricane Center said its center was expected to reach the western Florida Panhandle coast Friday evening at or near major hurricane strength. Weakening is expected to begin after landfall, and the storm is likely to become post-tropical by late Saturday, the center said. 7News reported its remnants will move through the Mid-Atlantic Sunday into Sunday night.

Rain could begin in the District, Maryland and Virginia as early as Saturday evening and continue through Sunday night, Fox 5 reported. Forecasters there expect 1 to 2 inches across the region, with higher totals possible where heavier bands set up. The Weather Prediction Center has placed parts of the region under a marginal risk for excessive rainfall, meaning isolated flooding is possible.

Wind gusts of 20 to 30 mph are possible outside the mountains on Sunday, and 30 to 40 mph gusts are possible in the Alleghenies. Minor coastal flooding is possible at high tide Sunday and Monday in vulnerable areas. No tropical watches or warnings are in effect for the Mid-Atlantic.

For a point in the Dulles area of Northern Virginia, the National Weather Service forecast published by Patch calls for a 100 percent chance of precipitation Sunday, with rain before 2 p.m., showers after, and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 p.m. The high there is forecast near 68, with gusts up to 28 mph. Showers could linger into early Monday before the system clears, and Tuesday is forecast to be mostly sunny.

The weather could also affect the Washington Commanders’ 1 p.m. home game against the New York Giants, Fox 5 reported.

The worst of the storm will be on the Gulf Coast. The hurricane center said water could reach 6 to 9 feet above ground from the Alabama-Florida border to Grayton Beach, Florida, if the peak surge coincides with high tide. AccuWeather meteorologist Tyler Roys said in a statement that strong upper-level winds should disrupt the hurricane before landfall. If they arrive a few hours late, he said, Isaias could hold Category 3 strength.