Isaias strengthens into a hurricane as it continues moving toward Gulf Coast

Hurricane Isaias has formed in the Gulf of Mexico, marking the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2026 season. As of Thursday, the Category 1 storm was located several hundred miles south of the U.S. coast with sustained winds between 75 and 80 mph. It is projected to make landfall in the Florida Panhandle or near the Alabama-Mississippi border late Friday night. In response, governors in Florida and Alabama have declared states of emergency, and evacuation orders have been issued in specific coastal counties as officials warn of dangerous storm surges and heavy rainfall.

Hurricane Isaias has formed in the Gulf of Mexico, marking the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2026 season. As of Thursday, the Category 1 storm was located several hundred miles south of the U.S. coast with sustained winds between 75 and 80 mph. It is projected to make landfall in the Florida Panhandle or near the Alabama-Mississippi border late Friday night. In response, governors in Florida and Alabama have declared states of emergency, and evacuation orders have been issued in specific coastal counties as officials warn of dangerous storm surges and heavy rainfall.