Hurricane Isaias forecast to bring dangerous storm surge, with millions under warnings in US
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Hurricane Isaias on 8 October 2026. Photograph: NOAA View image in fullscreen Hurricane Isaias on 8 October 2026. Photograph: NOAA US weather Hurricane Isaias forecast to bring dangerous storm surge, with millions under warnings in US Residents in areas from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Florida urged to ‘evacuate if told to do so’
Prefer the Guardian on Google Millions of people from Louisiana to Florida are under hurricane warnings on Thursday as Hurricane Isaias heads toward the US Gulf coast with weather officials warning of dangerous storm surge, hurricane-force winds, heavy rainfall and flooding.
Isaias intensified into a hurricane from a tropical storm on Wednesday night, becoming the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.
In an advisory on Thursday, the National Weather Service (NWS) said that Isaias, which is currently a category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 85mph with higher gusts, is expected to pass to the north of the Yucatán peninsula later on Thursday before reaching the northern Gulf coast where it is expected to make landfall late Friday or early Saturday.
The NWS warned that Isaias is “expected to strengthen and be a strong hurricane when it approaches the northern Gulf Coast on Friday” and said that a “life-threatening storm surge” is expected along parts of the northern Gulf coast.
Michael Brennan, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Hurricane Center, said Thursday that Isaias is expected to bring “multiple dangerous hazards” to much of the northern Gulf Coast from Friday into Saturday and warned that it could be a “dangerous hurricane when it makes landfall”.
Storm surge warnings, issued when there is a “danger of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the coastline”, are in effect from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Suwanee River in Florida . Residents in the affected areas have been urged to follow advice from local officials and evacuate if instructed to do so.
Hurricane warnings, meaning hurricane conditions are expected, are in effect from Ocean Springs, Mississippi to the Bay/Gulf county line in Florida. The NWS warned that “damaging hurricane force-winds are expected over portions of the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama, and southern Mississippi” and urged residents to prepare for possible “long-duration power outages”.
Gusty winds are also possible across parts of the Yucatan Peninsula on Thursday.
Tropical storm warnings are in effect from parts of Louisiana to west of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and from east of Bay/Gulf County Line to Aucilla River in Florida.
Isaias is also expected to bring heavy rainfall to the central Gulf coast and much of the south-east from Friday into the weekend. The NWS warned of possible flash, urban and isolated river flooding, with 3in to 7in of rain expected from south-eastern Louisiana to the Florida Big Bend region from Friday through the weekend.
“Localized totals up to 15 inches are possible, particularly within banding across the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend,” the NWS said.
Isolated tornadoes could also develop Friday night in coastal areas of Alabama and the Florida Panhandle and far southwestern Georgia, the NWS said, adding that “the tornado threat will continue Saturday for eastern Alabama, Georgia and northern Florida.”
Read more On Wednesday, the Alabama governor, Kay Ivey, declared a state of emergency in 40 counties, saying the order “will allow us to take any needed steps ahead of landfall”. The emergency declaration is set to remain in effect until 14 October.
On Wednesday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey declared a state of emergency in 40 counties, saying the order would allow officials to take necessary steps ahead of landfall. The declaration is set to remain in effect until October 14.
The Florida governor, Ron DeSantis, also declared a state of emergency this week for 25 counties as the state prepares.
“This order ensures communities have the time and resources necessary to prepare for potential severe weather impacts to the Panhandle and Big Bend region of Florida,” DeSantis said in the announcement.
At the local level, officials in Okaloosa county, Florida, declared a local state of emergency on Wednesday and ordered some residents in coastal areas to evacuate. Panama City also declared a local state of emergency “due to the potential effects of Isaias and its near threat to the citizens and property in Panama City and surrounding communities”.
Several school districts in Alabama and Florida have also announced closures ahead of Isaias.
The Federal Aviation Administration also warned on Thursday that Isaias may “lead to Gulf route closures”.
In Tennessee, the NWS office in Morristown warned that “remnants of Hurricane Isaias will bring heavy rain and strong, gusty winds to our area this weekend.” The office said that “high winds could top 60–70+ mph in the eastern TN mountains and foothills, with isolated flash flooding possible in heavy rainfall areas.”
In Ohio, the NWS office in Wilmington cautioned that Isaias will impact the Ohio Valley this weekend, with strong winds expected, and possible “widespread rain” and storms. In Pennsylvania, the NWS office in Pittsburgh said that “moisture from Hurricane Isaias is forecast to reach our region this weekend” and that they are expecting “soaking rain, but risks of significant flooding are low”.
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