Hurricane Isaias Threatens Gulf Coast With Flooding
Hurricane Isaias, the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season, is intensifying and expected to make landfall along the northern Gulf Coast late Friday or early Saturday. The storm, which strengthened from a tropical storm late Wednesday night, currently has maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (137 km/h) and is located approximately 380 miles south of the Mississippi River's mouth. Hurricane-force winds extend up to 15 miles from the center, while tropical-storm-force winds reach up to 90 miles. A hurricane warning is in effect for areas spanning the Mississippi-Alabama state line to Panama City, Florida. Florida and Alabama governors have declared states of emergency, and mandatory evacuations are underway in parts of Florida's Okaloosa and Walton counties. The National Hurricane Center warns of additional strengthening through Friday, with significant storm surge, heavy rainfall, and damaging winds expected.
