Hurricane Isaias (2020)

Basin

North Atlantic

Dates

July 28, 2020 to August 5, 2020

Peak strength

Category 1, 80 kt (92 mph)

Lowest pressure

986 mb (29.12 inHg)

Landfall

Yes

Accumulated cyclone energy

9.4

Tropical-storm-force wind reached

300 nmi (556 km, 345 mi) from the center at its widest

Hurricane-force wind reached

40 nmi (74 km, 46 mi) from the center at its widest

Eyewall radius at its peak

20 nmi (37 km, 23 mi)

Overall size

300 nmi (556 km, 345 mi) to the outermost closed isobar

Peak gust in the best track

90 kt (104 mph)

Fastest the center moved

35 kt (40 mph)

Identifier

AL092020

Radar at KLTX as it neared land, Aug 4, 03:10 UTC

The sources count different things and are not added together.

Landfall points the US agencies flagged in the best track. The nearest town is named from the site’s gazetteer, not from the report.

NOAA’s Storm Events database, the record National Weather Service offices compile months after a storm, as compiled March 2026.

Deaths

18 (18 direct, 0 indirect)

Injuries

51

Property damage

$125 million

Crop damage

$2,000

Events recorded

862 in 77 reports from 21 states and marine areas

State by state

What was recorded

235 tropical storm, 187 flash flood, 118 heavy rain, 107 thunderstorm wind, 48 strong wind, 46 tornado, 38 marine tropical storm, 23 flood, 18 marine thunderstorm wind, 12 coastal flood, 10 debris flow, 8 tropical depression, 3 high wind, 2 hail, 2 storm surge/tide, 1 waterspout, 1 marine tropical depression, 1 astronomical low tide, 1 lightning, 1 rip current.

46 tornadoes and 1 waterspout recorded in the United States, strongest first.

The Weather Prediction Center attributes 6,171 rain gauge totals over the contiguous United States to this storm. The wettest reached 9.15 inches (232 mm).

WPC’s storm rainfall file, 1900 to 2020, compiled by David Roth.

The strongest winds National Weather Service offices recorded with this storm. An estimated figure is a forecaster’s judgment from the damage, not an instrument reading.

From the Storm Events narratives, unedited.

TS Isaias tracked north, offshore of the local coast. Broken rain bands moved onshore with brief squalls. At 5:27 am on 8/3, the AWOS at St. Augustine airport measured a peak wind of 21 mph from the north. A peak gust of 32 mph from the NNE was measured at 5:59 am. The St. Augustine C-Man station measured peak winds at 6:10 am with sustained 33 mph and a gust to 41 mph. Rainfall was minimal across the area with measured totals 1.02 inches at a few locations across western parts of the county per a CoCoRaHS station. Otherwise, rainfall was less than 1 inch with several areas near St. Augustine measuring around 0.50 inches. Storm surge was up to 2 ft inundation, most locations were 1.5 ft above dry ground or less. The only damage reported was from the National Park Service who stated that there was minor beach erosion at Fort Matanzas.

Coastal St. Johns, Florida · Tropical Storm · Aug 2, 09:00 UTC

A tornado associated with Hurricane Isaias formed just offshore over the Pamlico River, and then moved over a small waterfront community off of Rest Haven Road east of Bayview. The tornado snapped, twisted, or uprooted numerous trees, the majority of them were pine trees. Several trees fell partially on homes which caused damage to a few roofs, walls, and vehicles. The tornado then continued northward, downing or snapping several trees along Rest Haven Road. Then as the tornado reached NC 99, several more trees were seriously damaged, snapped, or uprooted in the vicinity of a few homes. There was also minor damage to a manufactured home and a small shed had its roof blown off. After passing north of NC 99, the tornado continued to cause damage to the tops of several more trees before dissipating in a large field.

Beaufort, North Carolina · Tornado · Aug 4, 04:50 UTC

A damage survey conducted by the NWS Wakefield office found a path of storm damage consistent with an EF2 tornado. The damage began near the Southampton Power Station off General Thomas Highway and ended 4 miles north of Sebrell near Farmers Bridge Road. The tornado first touched down in a wooded area and caused numerous trees to be snapped about 6 miles southeast of Courtland. The tornado then moved northeast and into Courtland, where it caused damage to numerous homes and businesses along Highway 58, including lifting the second story roof off a hotel building. Several vehicles were also overturned. The tornado then continued to travel northeast where more trees were snapped or uprooted. The tornado finally lifted just north of Sebrell near Farmers Bridge Road.

Southampton, Virginia · Tornado · Aug 4, 06:49 UTC

A damage survey conducted by the NWS Wakefield office found a path of storm damage consistent with an EF1 tornado. The tornado likely developed as a waterspout over the York River, then moved onshore at Middle Peninsula State Park. The tornado then quickly tracked north northwest, crossing over Rosewell Plantation, Gum Point Lane and Taliaferro Lane. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted in this area consistent with EF1 damage. Some roof materials and siding were also removed from homes in this area. The tornado then briefly moved over the York River again before crossing over Hermitage Lane and Primrose Path where additional snapped trees were observed. The tornado continued to move north northwest before lifting near Cappahosic Road.

Gloucester, Virginia · Tornado · Aug 4, 08:53 UTC

An EF2 tornado quickly developed over George Island Landing Road. The tornado moved toward the northwest coming in from the water. The tornado destroyed several chicken houses and snapped numerous trees in a clearly defined EF2 path. Several homes suffered damage on the edge of the tornado path including blown out windows and some roof loss. A camper was overturned and tossed in addition to a number of outbuildings. The tornado weakened as it moved northwest eventually tracking across Girdletree as an EF0. Several trees were snapped and uprooted on the east side of Girdletree. The tornado then lifted shortly after passing through the Girdletree area.

Worcester, Maryland · Tornado · Aug 4, 11:14 UTC

The tornado touched down along Stagwell Road in Queenstown. Pictures and video showed a distinct but narrow path in a corn field parallel to the road which is mostly east to west. The downed corn was in a circular pattern, and aerial footage over the corn field showed some downburst signatures on the right side of the tornado path. In addition to the cornfield damage, sporadic tree damage occurred along Stagwell Road across from the corn field. The tornado looks to have lifted before it reached the Wye River as there was no additional visible damage north of this path. Radar showed defined rotation, however given the weak intensity of the tornado it appeared to have occurred on the north side of a larger rotational signature and therefore tracked more east to west.

Queen Anne'S, Maryland · Tornado · Aug 4, 12:18 UTC

Soon after crossing Haven Lake into Kent County, the tornado's direction of motion shifted considerably, from north-northeast to northwest. The tornado crossed Williamsville Road producing additional tree damage, then lifted as it proceeded northwest west of Milford Harrington Highway. Due to the extensive tree damage, power lines and some poles were also down along portions of the tornados path. Several of the trees were of softwood and snapped at their trunks, which is indicative of 100 mph winds and this was used to rate this tornado. This wind speed corresponds to an EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Doppler radar data showed a well defined tornado debris signature that quickly developed on the west and northwest side of Milford as the circulation moved through.

Kent, Delaware · Tornado · Aug 4, 12:28 UTC

After crossing into Philadelphia County, the tornado continued moving northwest through the Philadelphia Mills Mall and then to Knights Road and Medford Road toward Dunks Ferry Road. Three exhaust systems and 6 RTU systems were blown off the roof in less than 15 seconds at the former Walmart Store currently undergoing reconstruction, and numerous trees, some close to 100 years old, were snapped or blown over along Knights Road, Medford Road, and Dunks Ferry Road. Roofs, siding, and awnings were blown off many homes in the area. A few cars were also tossed or turned over as the storm moved through. The estimated wind speed in this area was 100 mph, equivalent to EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale. The tornado may have briefly lifted as it continued northwestward and prepared to cross into Bucks County for a second time.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Tornado · Aug 4, 14:51 UTC

The Farmingdale Airport ASOS reported a maximum sustained wind of 53 mph at 1247 pm LST and a peak wind gust of 78 mph at 1246 pm LST. The Islip MacArthur Airport ASOS reported a maximum sustained wind of 49 mph at 136 pm LST and a peak wind gust of 69 mph at 320 pm LST. In addition, peak wind gusts of 75 mph were measured at the WeatherFlow station in the Great South Bay at 1243pm LST, 69 mph at the CWOP station at West Gilgo Beach at 100pm LST, 68 mph at the Fire Island Coast Guard station at 144pm, and 65 mph at the WeatherFlow station at Blue Point at 158pm. These type of winds across the area resulted in numerous trees and tree limbs being downed, power outages, damages to homes and automobiles, and disruption to mass transit. There were no reports of coastal flooding as the highest storm surge did not coincide with high tide and was during a period of low astronomical tides.

Southwest Suffolk, New York · Tropical Storm · Aug 4, 16:00 UTC

A woman was critically injured when a falling tree branch hit her while walking on Dumont Avenue in Brownsville Brooklyn around 12pm LST. Brooklyn College measured a maximum sustained wind of 33 mph at 1240 pm LST and a peak wind gust of 60 mph at 1235 pm LST. Nearby JFK International Airport reported a maximum sustained wind of 51 mph at 1236 pm LST and a peak wind gust of 70 mph at 1225 pm LST. These type of winds across the borough resulted in numerous trees and tree limbs being downed, power outages, damages to homes and automobiles, and disruption to mass transit. The NYC Office of Emergency Management reported 26,338 power outages. NYCEM has calculated property damages of $7,138,176 in the borough. There were no reports of coastal flooding as the highest storm surge did not coincide with high tide and was during a period of low astronomical tides.

Kings (brooklyn), New York · Tropical Storm · Aug 4, 16:00 UTC

In Kearny, Hudson County NJ, one person was injured and trapped in their car around 12pm LST from a tree falling on there car. Maximum sustained winds of 42 mph were recorded at the Harrison Wx COOP station in Hudson County at 1155 am LST, and 39 mph at a mesonet stations at Secaucus at 1 pm LST. A peak wind gust of 62 mph was recorded at the WeatherFlow station in Bayonne at 1151 am LST, and nearby, the Honorable William Wall Mesonet, reported a maximum sustained wind of 49 mph and peak gusts of 78 mph at 1218 pm LST. These type of winds across the area resulted in numerous trees and tree limbs being downed, power outages, damages to homes and automobiles, and disruption to mass transit. There were no reports of coastal flooding as the highest storm surge did not coincide with high tide and was during a period of low astronomical tides.

Hudson, New Jersey · Tropical Storm · Aug 4, 16:00 UTC

In Little Ferry, Bergen County, NJ one person and a dog were injured when struck by a falling tree around 1212pm LST. A maximum sustained wind of 40 mph and a peak wind gust of 55 mph were measured at the Teterboro Airport ASOS at 1213pm LST. A peak winds gust of 51 mph was measured at a mesonet station in Maywood at 1208 PM LST. These type of winds across the area resulted in numerous trees and tree limbs being downed, power outages, damages to homes and automobiles, and disruption to mass transit. There were no reports of coastal flooding as the highest storm surge did not coincide with high tide and was during a period of low astronomical tides.

Eastern Bergen, New Jersey · Tropical Storm · Aug 4, 16:00 UTC

Numerous trees and power lines were downed throughout the county. This resulted in numerous power outages. Bridgeport's Sikorsky Memorial Airport reported a maximum sustained wind of 43 mph at 406 pm LST and a peak wind gust of 62 mph at 133 pm LST. The Norwalk Light Weatherflow site reported a maximum sustained wind of 52 mph and a peak gust of 70 mph at 125 pm LST. The Bridgeport NOS tide gauge reported a gust of 68 mph at 230 pm LST. There was also a confirmed EF-1 tornado in Westport, CT around 1:40 pm, as a waterspout came onshore. There were no reports of coastal flooding as the highest storm surge did not coincide with high tide and was during a period of low astronomical tides.

Southern Fairfield, Connecticut · Tropical Storm · Aug 4, 17:00 UTC

A slow-moving thunderstorm produced 4 to 5 inch rainfall amounts over a 2-hour period in the Fleetwood area. CREST unit streamflow estimates put this event close to 1000 cfs/mi^2, or a 100-200 year rainfall event at both the 1- and 2-hour time intervals. This resulted in several reports of flooding in the Fleetwood area, including at the intersection of Windy Hill Road and Highway 221, which made the intersection impassible. The heavy rain caused a mudslide to occur along Paul Goodman Road. Rock Quarry road was impassible where a tributary of the South Fork New River, the drainage area of which was completely within the area of heaviest rainfall, flooded out of its banks and over-topped the intersecting bridge. The same tributary caused flooding along Dick Phillips Road further upstream where the two run adjacent to one another.

Ashe, North Carolina · Flash Flood · Aug 7, 19:19 UTC

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A best track is the record a warning agency settles on after the storm, not what it said at the time: position, maximum sustained wind and central pressure every six hours, revised against every observation that came in later. Category is the Saffir-Simpson scale, which runs from Category 1 at 64 kt to Category 5 at 137 kt and reads wind only, so it says nothing about surge or rain. Accumulated cyclone energy adds up the square of the wind through the storm's life, so it counts strength and duration together.

Storm history from NOAA NCEI’s International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS), which merges the official best track of every warning agency. Live storms, cones, watches and warnings from the National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Archived radar from NOAA’s Level II archive.

• Tropical cyclone report, National Hurricane Center
• Every advisory and discussion NHC issued while it was live
• Best track as KMZ, National Hurricane Center
• Best track as a shapefile, National Hurricane Center
• Wikipedia article: Hurricane Isaias