Hurricane Isaias Approaches Northern Gulf Coast
Hurricane Isaias has strengthened to a Category 3 storm as it approaches the northern Gulf Coast, according to the forecast described Friday, October 9. Its maximum sustained winds are 120 mph, and forecasters expect landfall near Pensacola, Florida, on Friday evening.
The storm is forecast to bring heavy rain, coastal flooding, tornadoes and power outages to the western Florida Panhandle, Alabama and Mississippi. Although some weakening is expected before landfall, forecasters say the hurricane could remain dangerous regardless of its strength when it reaches shore.
A storm surge of up to nine feet is possible near the landfall area. Coastal communities from Alabama to Port St. Joe, Florida, could see five to seven feet of surge. Several coastal counties are under mandatory evacuation orders as officials prepare for flooding and other hazards.
Forecasts call for as much as 15 inches of rain along the coast. Tornadoes could develop on the eastern side of the storm, adding to the risks for communities beyond the shoreline.
At a Friday morning briefing, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis urged residents to prepare for possible power outages and to keep supplies including fuel, prescriptions, nonperishable food and water available for at least 72 hours.
The effects are expected to extend inland on Saturday. Heavy rain and strong winds could affect cities including Jackson, Memphis, Nashville, Atlanta, Wilmington, Charleston, Tallahassee and Orlando. Parts of the Southeast, Appalachia, Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic could also face flash flooding over the weekend.
Isaias is described as the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season. Officials are advising people in affected areas to follow local evacuation instructions and monitor forecasts as the storm moves toward land and then across the region. The potential impacts vary by location, with the greatest surge threat near the expected landfall and rainfall risks farther inland.