Hurricane Isaias makes landfall on Gulf Coast as Category 2 storm

Hurricane Isaias, the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season, made landfall as a Category 2 storm near Destin, Florida, on the evening of Friday, October 9. The storm brought maximum sustained winds of approximately 105 mph, significant storm surge warnings, and widespread power outages across Florida and Alabama. State officials in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia declared states of emergency and issued mandatory evacuations for coastal and low-lying areas. While the storm reached Category 3 intensity earlier in the day, it weakened slightly before landfall due to wind shear, though it remains a significant flood and wind threat as it moves inland toward the Tennessee Valley.

Hurricane Isaias, the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season, made landfall as a Category 2 storm near Destin, Florida, on the evening of Friday, October 9. The storm brought maximum sustained winds of approximately 105 mph, significant storm surge warnings, and widespread power outages across Florida and Alabama. State officials in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia declared states of emergency and issued mandatory evacuations for coastal and low-lying areas. While the storm reached Category 3 intensity earlier in the day, it weakened slightly before landfall due to wind shear, though it remains a significant flood and wind threat as it moves inland toward the Tennessee Valley.