The breakdown:
Hurricane Isaias is moving toward the northern Gulf Coast, with landfall expected late Friday or early Saturday and risks of damaging winds, storm surge, flooding, and tornadoes.
Florida and Alabama officials declared emergencies; coastal areas ordered evacuations, schools canceled classes, and local governments and oil operations shut down or scaled back.
The storm could bring 5–7 feet of storm surge, up to 10 inches of rain, and prolonged power outages, though it was expected to weaken quickly after landfall.
Isaias formed unusually late in the season, and its approach threatened offshore oil production, tourism, and a planned Georgia–Alabama football game.
Hurricane Isaias is moving through the Gulf of Mexico Thursday and rapidly strengthening as it heads to the Gulf Coast.
Isaias is the first hurricane of the Atlantic season.
The hurricane is forecast to strengthen and bring strong winds and a storm surge to the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama, and southern Mississippi when it makes landfall late Friday or early Saturday.
The hurricane has maximum sustained winds around 80 mph and was moving northeast at 9 mph early Thursday morning.
How strong is Hurricane Isaias?
Hurricane Isaias is currently at Category 1. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), it’s expected to strengthen to a Category 2 as it hits the Gulf Coast.
Where is the hurricane forecast to travel?
Isaias is expected to hit the northern Gulf Coast on Friday, Oct. 9. NOAA said a “life-threatening” storm surge is expected along part of the northern Gulf Coast, and a Storm Surge Warning remains in effect from the Mouth of the Mississippi River to Steinhatchee, Florida.
Hurricane Isaias is expected to hit the northern Gulf Coast on Friday, Oct. 9. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
You can watch the livestream tracker of the storm in the video below:
You can also click here to watch the tracker live.
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