A tropical storm named Isaias formed in the Gulf of Mexico early Wednesday, and forecasters expect it to rapidly strengthen into a dangerous Category 2 hurricane before striking the U.S. northern Gulf Coast at the end of the week.
The National Hurricane Center said Isaias strengthened from Tropical Depression Nine in the Bay of Campeche on Wednesday morning, with sustained winds of 45 mph. The storm was centered about 540 miles south-southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River and was moving east-northeast at about 8 mph. Forecasters project it to become a hurricane by Thursday, Oct. 8, and reach 110-mph Category 2 strength within 48 hours as it charges toward the northern Gulf Coast.
State of Emergency in Florida
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency covering 25 North Florida counties in anticipation of the storm. The declaration allows officials to mobilize resources, activate the National Guard, open shelters, and stage emergency supplies. Announcing the order, DeSantis said Floridians should have their plans in place and keep emergency supply kits stocked.
Projected Landfall and Impacts
Landfall is currently estimated between late Friday, Oct. 9, and early Saturday, Oct. 10, somewhere between Biloxi, Mississippi, and Panama City, Florida. Even if the storm weakens slightly as it comes ashore, it is expected to remain a hurricane through landfall with a growing wind field.
The Hurricane Center warned of damaging winds, a large storm surge, and significant coastal flooding, along with 6 to 10 inches of rain and localized higher totals that could trigger flash and urban flooding. The Storm Prediction Center flagged a tornado threat for Saturday across southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. USA Today identified Gulfport, Mobile, and Pensacola as cities in the potential path; Fox Weather put roughly 30 million people in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and the Florida Panhandle within the impact zone. By late Wednesday morning, the NHC had issued a storm surge watch from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Yankeetown, Florida, a hurricane watch from Bay St. Louis, Mississippi to Indian Pass, Florida, and tropical storm watches covering portions of the Louisiana and Florida coasts.
Sources: USA Today: Tropical Storm Isaias takes aim at Gulf Coast, Fox Weather: Tropical Storm Isaias forms in the Gulf, Pensacola News Journal: Live updates on Tropical Storm Isaias
The National Hurricane Center said Isaias strengthened from Tropical Depression Nine in the Bay of Campeche on Wednesday morning, with sustained winds of 45 mph. The storm was centered about 540 miles south-southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River and was moving east-northeast at about 8 mph. Forecasters project it to become a hurricane by Thursday, Oct. 8, and reach 110-mph Category 2 strength within 48 hours as it charges toward the northern Gulf Coast.
State of Emergency in Florida
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency covering 25 North Florida counties in anticipation of the storm. The declaration allows officials to mobilize resources, activate the National Guard, open shelters, and stage emergency supplies. Announcing the order, DeSantis said Floridians should have their plans in place and keep emergency supply kits stocked.
Projected Landfall and Impacts
Landfall is currently estimated between late Friday, Oct. 9, and early Saturday, Oct. 10, somewhere between Biloxi, Mississippi, and Panama City, Florida. Even if the storm weakens slightly as it comes ashore, it is expected to remain a hurricane through landfall with a growing wind field.
The Hurricane Center warned of damaging winds, a large storm surge, and significant coastal flooding, along with 6 to 10 inches of rain and localized higher totals that could trigger flash and urban flooding. The Storm Prediction Center flagged a tornado threat for Saturday across southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. USA Today identified Gulfport, Mobile, and Pensacola as cities in the potential path; Fox Weather put roughly 30 million people in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and the Florida Panhandle within the impact zone. By late Wednesday morning, the NHC had issued a storm surge watch from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Yankeetown, Florida, a hurricane watch from Bay St. Louis, Mississippi to Indian Pass, Florida, and tropical storm watches covering portions of the Louisiana and Florida coasts.
Sources: USA Today: Tropical Storm Isaias takes aim at Gulf Coast, Fox Weather: Tropical Storm Isaias forms in the Gulf, Pensacola News Journal: Live updates on Tropical Storm Isaias
