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Tropics forecast: Isaias strengthens into Cat 2 hurricane, targeting northern Gulf Coast
Hurricane Isaias strengthened Thursday as it moved toward the U.S. Gulf Coast, with Hurricane Hunters finding that maximum sustained winds had increased to 100 mph.
Hurricane Isaias strengthened into a Category 2 storm Thursday as it moved toward the U.S. Gulf Coast, with Hurricane Hunters finding that maximum sustained winds had increased to 100 mph.
Early Thursday evening, Isaias was about 325 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River, moving northeast at 12 mph. Additional strengthening was expected before landfall along the northern Gulf Coast late Friday or early Saturday.
"We are expecting Isaias to be a dangerous hurricane when it makes landfall," National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan said.
Evacuations were underway in vulnerable coastal areas of Florida and Alabama. Forecasters warned of damaging winds, flooding rain, tornadoes and storm surge of 5 to 7 feet in parts of Alabama and Mississippi.
The hurricane center urged residents in warning areas to finish preparations Thursday before conditions deteriorate.
"Additional strengthening is expected through early Friday, and Isaias should remain a strong hurricane as it approaches the northern Gulf Coast on Friday night," the National Hurricane Center said.
Isaias was also disrupting Gulf Coast oil production, with about 63% of the region’s production temporarily halted.
Will Isaias impact Central Florida?
Isaias will not pose a direct threat to Central Florida.
However, parts of the Florida Panhandle will be impacted by the storm, which is expected to bring heavy rain, damaging winds and storm surge.
Hurricane, tropical storm watches
A hurricane warning is in effect for the northern Gulf Coast, from Mississippi to Florida's Gulf County.
A tropical storm warning has also been issued for Jefferson/Plaquemines Parish line in Louisiana to west of Ocean Springs, Mississippi and from east of the Bay/Gulf County line to Florida's Aucilla River.
State of Emergency issued for some Florida counties
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 25 counties: Baker, Bay, Calhoun, Columbia, Dixie, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Suwannee, Taylor, Walton, Wakulla, and Washington.
Isaias formed late in hurricane season
The Atlantic hurricane season has been unusually quiet this year because of El Niño.
Isaias's development into a hurricane comes more than four months into hurricane season, making it one of the latest-forming hurricanes in history.
The Source: This story was written based on information released by the National Hurricane Center and the FOX 35 Storm Team.