Isaias became the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season late Wednesday and is expected to reach the U.S. Gulf Coast late Friday or early Saturday. The National Hurricane Center said the storm was strengthening early Thursday, with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph.
A hurricane warning covers the coast from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, through Alabama to Florida's Bay/Gulf County line. The center placed Isaias about 420 miles south-southwest of the Mississippi River's mouth early Thursday and expects further strengthening through early Friday.
Storm surge and damaging winds threaten the warning area. Forecasters expect 3 to 7 inches of rain from southeastern Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle, with up to 10 inches in some places. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared an emergency in more than two dozen counties, while Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey did so in 40 counties.
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