Category 1 storm forecast to reach northern Gulf coast Friday or Saturday
Hurricane Isaias intensified from a tropical storm into a Category 1 hurricane on Wednesday night — becoming the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season — and was moving toward the northern Gulf coast on Thursday with the National Weather Service warning of dangerous storm surge and damaging winds ahead of a late Friday or early Saturday landfall.
In a Thursday morning advisory, the NWS said Isaias carried sustained winds of 80 mph and was expected to pass north of the Yucatán peninsula later Thursday before approaching the northern Gulf coast. The service warned that Isaias is “expected to strengthen and be a strong hurricane when it approaches the northern Gulf Coast on Friday” and that a “life-threatening storm surge” was expected along a portion of the northern coastline.
Storm surge warnings were in effect Thursday from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Steinhatchee, Florida, with the NWS urging residents in the warning area to “follow advice given by local officials and evacuate if told to do so.” Hurricane warnings covered areas from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Bay/Gulf county line in Florida. The service warned that “damaging hurricane force-winds are expected over portions of the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama, and southern Mississippi” and urged residents to prepare for the possibility of “long-duration power outages.”
Isaias is expected to bring “areas of heavy rainfall” to the central Gulf coast and much of the southeast from Friday into the weekend, with the NWS warning that flash and urban flooding, along with isolated river flooding, would be possible. Isolated tornadoes were also possible Friday night in coastal areas of Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, and far southwestern Georgia, the service said, adding that “the tornado threat will continue Saturday for eastern Alabama, Georgia and northern Florida.”
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey declared a state of emergency in 40 counties on Wednesday, saying the order “will allow us to take any needed steps ahead of landfall.” That declaration is scheduled to remain in effect through October 14. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 25 counties this week, saying “This order ensures communities have the time and resources necessary to prepare for potential severe weather impacts to the Panhandle and Big Bend region of Florida.”
At the local level, officials in Okaloosa County, Florida, declared a local state of emergency on Wednesday and ordered some coastal residents to evacuate. Panama City declared a local state of emergency “due to the potential effects of Isaias and its near threat to the citizens and property in Panama City and surrounding communities.” Several school districts in Alabama and Florida have announced closures ahead of the storm.
The Federal Aviation Administration warned Thursday that Isaias may “lead to Gulf route closures.” In Tennessee, the NWS office in Morristown warned that “remnants of Hurricane Isaias will bring heavy rain and strong, gusty winds to our area this weekend,” with the office forecasting that “high winds could top 60–70+ mph in the eastern TN mountains and foothills, with isolated flash flooding possible in heavy rainfall areas.”