Aug. 4 marks three years since Hurricane Isaias severely impacted the tri-state area as a strong tropical storm. From high wind to flooding and tornadoes, Isaias impacted millions of people across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and the entire East Coast.

While Isaias was a fast-moving storm, racing north at 30 miles per hour, that fast forward speed helped enhance some of the impacts felt across our area. Wind gusts along the I-95 corridor and the coastline were between 50 and 80 miles per hour, including a maximum 78 mph gust recorded at Farmingdale on Long Island. New York City saw multiple 65+ mph gusts, including 70 mph at JFK Airport in Queens. One of the storm deaths occurred in the borough, from a downed tree crushing a car with a person inside.

The storm's fast movement also helped numerous tornadoes to form. Three EF-1 tornadoes were confirmed in our area - two in New Jersey and one in Connecticut. All three tornadoes had winds upwards of 110 miles per hour. While there were no deaths from these tornadoes, some damage was reported.

Across the East Coast, Hurricane Isaias is estimated to cost $4.8 billion in damage, from numerous impacts including wind, tornadoes, flash flooding, and coastal flooding. If including the Caribbean, where the storm first impacted as it was strengthening, the number balloons to over $5 billion. Ten direct deaths were reported from Isaias in the United States, and 18 overall.

While a faster moving storm does not leave as much time for flooding to occur, heavy rain bands inland caused flooding conditions across Western New Jersey, the Hudson Valley, and especially into eastern Pennsylvania. As much as six inches of rain fell in a few short hours in those areas causing some rivers and streams to crest.

The year 2020 was the most active hurricane season in the Atlantic, with Tropical Storm Fay impacting the tri-state just a few weeks prior. While this hurricane season has not brought direct impacts to our area, it only takes one storm to significantly impact our area. Make sure to stay with the News 12 Storm Watch Team, preparing you all hurricane season long.