ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A wet and windy weekend is ahead for Western North Carolina as Isaias moves north, with forecasters urging residents to keep an eye on changing conditions, particularly in areas prone to flooding and landslides.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Asheville and 13 other mountain counties from Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon. A high wind warning is also in effect for higher elevations, while lower elevations are under a wind advisory.

Most of the region will see rain, but the amounts could vary considerably depending on location. The greatest concern is along the Blue Ridge Escarpment and southeast-facing mountain slopes, where the Weather Service says 5 to 10 inches of rain is possible by Sunday morning.

That is not the forecast for Asheville, where several rounds of rain are expected through the weekend.

In a statement Friday night, the Weather Service said the potential for landslides and rockslides has increased in some mountain areas. Residents who live near steep slopes or streams are encouraged to review their plans and pay attention to local weather alerts.

What Asheville can expect

Rain is expected to begin early Saturday, mainly after 4 a.m., with temperatures falling to around 54 degrees.

Saturday will be rainy and breezy, with a high near 62. Showers are expected throughout the day, and thunderstorms are possible after 5 p.m. Winds could gust up to 39 mph.

Between a half-inch and three-quarters of an inch of rain is forecast during the day Saturday.

The steadiest rain is expected Saturday night, when another 1 to 2 inches could fall. The low will be near 59, with wind gusts up to 38 mph.

Showers should begin tapering off Sunday, mainly before noon, with a high near 71. Another quarter-inch to half-inch of rain is possible.

Where flooding and landslides are a concern

The National Weather Service expects the heaviest rain late Saturday afternoon through early Sunday morning, particularly along the Blue Ridge Escarpment and southeast-facing slopes of the Balsam and Black mountains.

As Isaias moves north, moisture will be pushed into the mountains, where the terrain can increase rainfall.

Heavy downpours could cause creeks and streams to rise, flood low-lying roads and create problems at crossings.

The Weather Service also says rainfall of 5 inches or more in similar storms has been associated with an increased risk of landslides and rockslides.

People living on steep mountainsides or in coves at the base of mountains, especially near streams, should consider staying somewhere safer before the heaviest rain arrives if their property is in a landslide-prone area.

The North Carolina Geological Survey has an online resource at landslidesncgs.org where residents can learn more about landslide hazards.

The flood watch covers Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania and Yancey counties. It also extends into parts of northeast Georgia and Upstate South Carolina.

Strong winds expected in the mountains

Winds will pick up as the storm approaches, with the strongest gusts expected at higher elevations.

A high wind warning is in effect above 3,500 feet from midnight Friday until 8 a.m. Sunday. Gusts could reach 60 mph, with downed trees, power lines and power outages possible.

Lower elevations are under a wind advisory, with gusts of 45 to 50 mph possible. Those winds could blow around unsecured outdoor items and cause isolated outages.

Residents should secure outdoor furniture and other loose items, keep phones charged and use caution if traveling, especially in high-profile vehicles.

A few precautions before the rain arrives

The Weather Service encourages residents to stay aware of conditions throughout the weekend, particularly if they live near creeks, streams or steep slopes.

A flood watch means flooding is possible, not that it is certain to happen. If a flash flood warning is issued for your area, take immediate action.

People in landslide-prone areas should make plans to leave early if necessary, rather than wait until roads become difficult to travel.

During heavy rain, avoid flooded roads and consider postponing travel on mountain roads, especially at night.

Residents can follow the latest forecasts and alerts at weather.gov/gsp.