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Hurricane Isaias updates: Storm now a strong Category 2 as it nears landfall

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

ByKenton Gewecke, Megan Fahrney, Mason Leib, and Meredith Deliso
Last Updated: October 9, 2026, 8:53 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 11 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.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Oct 9, 6:13 pm

Isaias 45 miles south of Pensacola, Florida

As of 8 p.m. ET on Friday, Hurricane Isaias had 110 mph max sustained winds and had weakened slightly to a Category 2 hurricane.

The hurricane was 45 miles south of Pensacola, Florida, moving north at 18 mph.

Track the storm path here.

The latest track on Hurricane Isaias
ABC News
2 hours and 52 minutes ago

Over 120K customers in 5 states without power

More than 120,000 customers are without power across five states in the hurricane zone -- Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Georgia.

4:36 PM EDT

Panama City, Florida, airport halts commercial flights

Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport in Panama City, Florida ceased all commercial operations as of 1 p.m. CT Friday, according to a social media post.

4:40 PM EDT

'Rapidly deteriorating' conditions along northern Gulf Coast

Conditions are "rapidly deteriorating along the northern Gulf Coast," according to a 4 p.m. ET update from the NHC, as Hurricane Isaias moves toward landfall.

Dor Offer, owner of Cafe Bistro, checks the weather on his phone as he closes his restaurant while Hurricane Isaias approaches Pensacola Beach, Fla., Oct. 9, 2026.
Gerald Herbert/AP Photo

Hurricane warnings are in place from east of Biloxi, Mississippi, to Panama City, Florida, and tornado watch is in place from Pensacola, Florida, to Tallahassee, Florida.

3:08 PM EDT

Tropical storm conditions begin along northern gulf

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.
NOAA

Tropical storm conditions are starting along the northern Gulf Coast, according to the National Hurricane Center.

"Preparations against life-threatening storm surge and devastating winds should be completed in the next couple of hours," the message read.

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