Hurricane Isaias is forecast to head towards the US Gulf Coast, with weather officials warning of dangerous storm surge, hurricane-force winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding. Millions of people from Louisiana to Florida are under hurricane warnings as of Thursday.
Isaias intensified from a tropical storm into a hurricane on Wednesday night, marking the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. The National Weather Service (NWS) stated in a Thursday morning advisory that Isaias, currently a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 80mph, is expected to pass north of the Yucatán peninsula later on Thursday.
Landfall is anticipated late Friday or early Saturday on the northern Gulf Coast. The NWS expects Isaias to strengthen and be a strong hurricane upon approach, warning of a “life-threatening storm surge” along parts of the northern Gulf Coast. Storm surge warnings are in effect from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Steinhatchee, Florida, with residents urged to evacuate if advised by local officials.
Hurricane warnings are also in effect from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Bay/Gulf county line, Florida. Damaging hurricane-force winds are expected over parts of the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama, and southern Mississippi, with residents advised to prepare for potential long-duration power outages. Isolated tornadoes are possible on Friday night in coastal areas of Alabama and the Florida Panhandle and far southwestern Georgia, continuing into Saturday for eastern Alabama, Georgia, and northern Florida.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey declared a state of emergency in 40 counties on Wednesday, an order scheduled to remain in effect until 14 October. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also declared a state of emergency this week for 25 counties. Local states of emergency have been declared in Okaloosa County and Panama City, Florida, with some residents in coastal areas of Okaloosa County ordered to evacuate.
Several school districts in Alabama and Florida have announced closures. The Federal Aviation Administration warned on Thursday that Isaias may lead to Gulf route closures. The NWS office in Morristown, Tennessee, warned that remnants of Hurricane Isaias could bring heavy rain and strong, gusty winds, potentially topping 60-70+ mph in the eastern Tennessee mountains and foothills, with isolated flash flooding possible this weekend.