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Hurricane Isaias updates: Life-threatening storm surge, devastating winds forecasted

Hurricane Isaias was upgraded to a Category 3 storm Friday morning.

ByKenton Gewecke and Megan Fahrney
Last Updated: October 9, 2026, 2:09 PM EDT

Communities on the U.S. Gulf Coast are preparing for Hurricane Isaias, now a Category 3 hurricane, to make landfall Friday between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.

A hurricane warning is currently in effect from just east of Biloxi, Mississippi, through Mobile and Pensacola to Panama City and Mexico Beach, Florida.

Many low-lying and coastal areas, particularly on the Florida Panhandle, are under evacuation orders, with communities preparing for strong winds that could near 120 mph in some locations, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a press conference Friday morning.

Storm surge warnings are also in place along the coast, with surges forecast to reach up to 9 feet from the Santa Rosa/Okaloosa County Line, Florida, to Grayton Beach, Florida.

Oct 9, 12:59 pm

Isaias 160 miles south of Pensacola, Florida

As of 1 p.m. ET on Friday, Hurricane Isaias had 120 mph max sustained winds and remained a Category 3 hurricane.

The hurricane was 160 miles south of Pensacola, Florida, moving north-northeast at 16 mph.

Track the storm path here.

1 minute ago

Tornado watch issued for parts of Florida, Georgia, Alabama

Tornado watch issued for parts of Florida, Georgia, Alabama


A tornado watch has been issued for parts of the Florida Panhandle, southern Georgia and Alabama through 9 p.m. ET.

This includes Pensacola, Panama City and Tallahassee in Florida.

Convective bands from Hurricane Isaias will continue to move north and overspread the watch area Friday afternoon through this evening.

Embedded tornadic storm cells are possible within those bands.

51 minutes ago

'Life-threatening storm surge and devastating winds likely,' NHC says

The National Hurricane Center said a "life-threatening storm surge and devastating winds" were likely to occur along Florida's Panhandle and Alabama's coasts, in an hourly update for 1 p.m. ET.

1 hour and 7 minutes ago

Isaias prompts evacuation orders for Florida, Alabama counties

People visit the beach as waves churn in the ocean as Hurricane Isaias approaches, October 09, 2026, in Pensacola Beach, Florida.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Evacuation orders have been issued for several counties in the Florida Panhandle and Alabama as Hurricane Isaias, now a powerful Category 3 storm, inches closer to landfall.

2 hours and 4 minutes ago

No commercial flights out of Mobile, Alabama, after 1 p.m.

Mobile Regional Airport said in a social media post that no commercial flights will operate after 1 p.m. ET Friday.

Additionally, all flights are cancelled Friday at Dothan Regional Airport in Alabama, the Dothan Airport said.

An American flag flaps in the wind generated by the effects of Isaias on an empty beach on Friday, Oct. 9, loom overhead, Oct. 9, 2026, in Mon Louis Island, Ala.
Octavio Jones/AP Photo

The FAA said that Hurricane Isaias could cause Gulf route closures.

Hertz is also waiving early and late return fees, reservation change fees and one-way rental fees for travelers impacted by the event.

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