Tropical Depression Nine May Become Hurricane Isaias
Tropical Depression Nine, currently located in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico, is intensifying and is expected to become a tropical storm within the next 12 to 24 hours, potentially earning the name Isaias. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), the system is forecasted to rapidly strengthen into a Category 1 or Category 2 hurricane by mid- to late week. This would mark the first Atlantic-based hurricane of the 2026 season, ending a record-breaking stretch without one since the satellite era began in 1966. The storm is projected to move northward and slightly east, with a potential landfall along the Gulf Coast between Louisiana and Florida late Friday or Saturday. Rainfall amounts in the Gulf Coast region could exceed 8 inches, with wind gusts nearing hurricane strength.