Tropical Storm Isaias strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane late Wednesday night and has officially become the first Atlantic hurricane of the season.
According to the 11 a.m. advisory report from the National Hurricane Center, the Isaias is located about 170 miles north of Progreso, Mexico and 380 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River. The storm is moving east-northeast at 10 mph with sustained winds of 85 mph.
Isaias is currently on path to make landfall late Friday or early Saturday along a stretch of area from Mississippi to Florida’s Panhandle. Tampa Bay is expected to see some minor coastal flooding, and possible inland flooding, says forecasters.
“Damaging hurricane force-winds are expected over portions of the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama, and southern Mississippi where a Hurricane Warning is in effect. Residents in these areas should prepare for the possibility of long-duration power outages,” says the NHC. “Isaias will bring areas of heavy rainfall to the central U.S. Gulf coast and much of the Southeast Friday into the weekend. Considerable flash and urban flooding, along with significant river flooding, will be possible.”
Isaias is expected to reach maximum strength as a strong Category 2 hurricane early Friday with 110 mph winds and 130 mph, but should weaken before making landfall.
On Tuesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 25 counties in preparation for Isaias. Those countries under the state of emergency include 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.
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This article appears in Oct. 08 – 14, 2026.
