Hurricane Isaias latest: Evacuation orders issued as storm heads toward Gulf Coast

Hurricane Isaias, the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2026 season, is projected to make landfall along the U.S. Gulf Coast between late Friday night and early Saturday morning. Strengthened into a Category 1 storm with sustained winds between 80-85 mph, the hurricane has prompted governors in Florida and Alabama to declare states of emergency for dozens of counties. Mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders are in effect for coastal and low-lying areas in the Florida Panhandle and Alabama, as meteorologists warn of a life-threatening storm surge up to 7 feet, heavy rainfall of up to 15 inches, and the potential for isolated tornadoes across the Southeast.

Hurricane Isaias, the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2026 season, is projected to make landfall along the U.S. Gulf Coast between late Friday night and early Saturday morning. Strengthened into a Category 1 storm with sustained winds between 80-85 mph, the hurricane has prompted governors in Florida and Alabama to declare states of emergency for dozens of counties. Mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders are in effect for coastal and low-lying areas in the Florida Panhandle and Alabama, as meteorologists warn of a life-threatening storm surge up to 7 feet, heavy rainfall of up to 15 inches, and the potential for isolated tornadoes across the Southeast.