The National Weather Service office in Nashville has issued a flood watch for a portion of Middle Tennessee ahead of Hurricane Isaias' projected landfall.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Isaias is expected to make landfall along the northern U.S. Gulf Coast on Oct. 9. Additional strengthening is forecast through early Oct. 9.
The system, the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, could reach winds exceeding 100 mph before approaching the United States and is expected to peak before landfall, USA TODAY reported.
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Tennessee is expected to experience only the remnants of the system. However, the weather service is warning that Middle Tennessee could receive more than three inches
of rain, along with wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph and the potential for brief spin-up tornadoes.
Here's what else to know.
How much rain will Hurricane Isaias bring to Nashville, Middle Tennessee?
Middle Tennessee is expected to see only the remnants of Isaias. According to the weather service, the system is forecast to bring widespread rain and gusty winds across the region during the weekend of Oct. 10.
Forecasters expect rainfall totals of one to more than three inches and wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph. The weather service is also warning of spin-up tornadoes, which are brief tornadoes that can develop quickly within rain bands associated with tropical systems.
Here's how much rain cities across Middle Tennessee could receive Oct. 10-11, according to the latest forecast from the weather service.
- Clarksville: 1.1-2.3 inches
- Waverly: 1.2-2.4 inches
- Waynesboro: 1.9-2.7 inches
- Nashville: 1.2-2.4 inches
- Columbia: 1.8-2.5 inches
- Lafayette: 0.8-2 inches
- Smithville: 0.8-1.9 inches
- Tullahoma: 1.2-2.1 inches
- Jamestown: 0.2-1 inches
- Crossville: 0.5-1.7 inches
- Fayetteville: 1.6-2.4 inches
- Monteagle: 1.2-2.2 inches
When and where will Hurricane Isaias' remnants impact Middle Tennessee?
The remnants of Isaias are expected to impact Middle Tennessee throughout the weekend of Oct. 10, with the heaviest rain totals expected south of Interstate 40. The heaviest period of rain is expected on the afternoon and evening of Oct. 10.
Wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph, as well as a few brief spin-up tornadoes are also possible Oct. 10.
Will the rain from Isaias alleviate drought conditions in Tennessee?
According to the weather service, the region's drought conditions may increase the risk of flash flooding, as dry, hardened ground is less able to absorb heavy rain, allowing water to run off more quickly and collect in low-lying areas.
A flood watch is in effect for portions of Middle Tennessee from late Oct. 9 through the morning of Oct. 11.
Counties in the watch include Bedford, Cheatham, Coffee, Davidson, Dickson, Giles, Grundy, Hickman, Humphreys, Lawrence, Lewis, Marshall, Maury, Perry, Rutherford, Wayne and Williamson.
When will the rain from Isaias move out of Middle Tennessee?
Conditions are expected to gradually improve on Oct. 11, with rain tapering off throughout the day before the last showers exit the region by Sunday night, wrote the weather service.
Where is Hurricane Isaias? Follow the storm's path into Tennessee
This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time.
Hurricane Isaias spaghetti models
The illustration includes an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest-performing models to help make its forecasts, and not all of them are publicly available.
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Hurricane Isaias prompts flood watch in Tennessee. How much rain to expect?
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