Hurricane Isaias will push heavy rain and gusty winds into the Concord and Harrisburg area starting Saturday, Oct. 10, threatening to disrupt NASCAR's three-race weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The storm strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane with 100 mph sustained winds by Thursday afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center. Isaias is expected to make landfall along the Gulf Coast late Friday night, WBTV reported. The eye should pass well west of the Carolinas, but tropical moisture will sweep into the Charlotte metro through the weekend.

WBTV's forecast calls for up to 3 inches of rain in the Charlotte region between Saturday, Oct. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 11. WSOC-TV estimated 1 to 2 inches across the metro. Gusts could reach 30 mph, enough for minor tree damage and sporadic power outages, according to WBTV meteorologist Paul Heggen.

The heaviest rain is expected late Saturday and into early Sunday morning, WSOC-TV reported. Western North Carolina could see 3 to 4 inches.

National Weather Service forecaster Mike Rehnberg of the Greer, S.C., office told the Charlotte Observer on Wednesday, Oct. 7, that "nothing cataclysmic with this one is expected in the region."

WCNC-TV chief meteorologist Brad Panovich, in a statement reported by the Raleigh News & Observer, said the storm's setup is fundamentally different from Hurricane Helene, which caused catastrophic flooding in western North Carolina in 2024. He called Isaias "a standard, beneficial soaking rain for most areas."

AccuWeather meteorologist Dan Pydynowski warned that dangerous flash flooding, mudslides and washed-out roads remain possible in mountain communities, the Charlotte Observer reported.

WSOC-TV also noted a low risk for an isolated tornado Sunday, though widespread severe weather is not expected.

NASCAR weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway

All three of NASCAR's top series are scheduled to race at the Concord speedway Oct. 9-11, according to Charlotte Motor Speedway:

  • Friday, Oct. 9: EcoSave 200 Craftsman Truck Series race at 5 p.m., followed by a Kyle Busch Celebration of Life ceremony (free for ticket holders)
  • Saturday, Oct. 10: Blue Cross NC 300 O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race at 4 p.m.
  • Sunday, Oct. 11: Bank of America 400 Cup Series race at 3 p.m., with a pre-race concert by country artist Tyler Hubbard

For the first time since 2017, the fall Charlotte NASCAR race will be held on the 1.5-mile oval rather than the road course, WBTV reported.

Friday's race should stay dry. Saturday's 4 p.m. race falls in the window when showers are expected to pick up. Sunday's Cup Series race could face the worst conditions, with WBTV's First Alert in effect for gusty winds and heavy rain.

@wxbrandon9: "I have really good news for NASCAR fans. Sunday is looking better and better. Saturday is trending somewhat wetter. Still iffy on when the rain will arrive."

Queen City News meteorologist Brandon Lawson posted that update on X on Thursday, Oct. 8.

No official statement from Charlotte Motor Speedway or NASCAR regarding weather-related schedule changes had been released as of Thursday afternoon.

Saturday morning should start dry with highs in the lower 70s before afternoon showers arrive. Lingering scattered showers are possible Monday, Oct. 12, with partly cloudy skies and highs in the upper 70s.