Hurricane Isaias intensified into a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph as it barreled toward the northern Gulf Coast on Friday, threatening a life-threatening storm surge of up to 9 feet near Pensacola, Florida, according to forecasts cited by The Daily Wire.
The storm, the first named hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season and the first in the basin since Hurricane Melissa last October, is expected to make landfall in the Pensacola area Friday evening. Forecasters predict some weakening before it comes ashore, but warn that Isaias will remain dangerous regardless of its exact strength at the moment of landfall.
Coastal areas from Alabama to Port St. Joe, Florida, could see storm surge of 5 to 7 feet, while the western Florida Panhandle, Alabama, Mississippi and other parts of the Southeast brace for heavy rain, severe flooding, tornadoes and power outages.
Evacuations ordered as DeSantis warns of outages
Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for several coastal counties ahead of the storm’s arrival. Speaking at a press conference Friday morning, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis urged residents to prepare for the likelihood of extended power loss.
“Now we know this is gonna be a major event in one way or another,” DeSantis said. “We tell people, assume you are going to lose power … so make sure you have what you need — gasoline, any prescriptions, nonperishable food, water — to be able to get you through this, particularly 72-hour period.”
The governor’s guidance reflects the wide footprint of the storm. Forecasters predict up to 15 inches of rain along the coast, with flash flooding possible across parts of the Southeast, Appalachia, the Ohio Valley and the mid-Atlantic through the weekend.
By Saturday, heavy rainfall and strong winds are expected across the entire Southeast. Cities in the potential path include Jackson, Memphis, Nashville, Atlanta, Wilmington, Charleston, Tallahassee and Orlando, according to the Weather Channel.
Tornado threat on the storm’s eastern flank
Beyond the surge and rainfall, forecasters are watching for tornadoes developing on the eastern side of the hurricane. Mike’s Weather Page flagged an “aggressive” Nadocast forecast for Isaias, noting that conditions could allow additional tornado chances, particularly on that side of the storm. The Storm Prediction Center was also showing a similar signal.
The Weather Channel confirmed the upgrade to Category 3 status, noting it was the first storm of its kind in the Atlantic Basin since Melissa last October.
Emergency officials across multiple states are expected to keep monitoring the system as it approaches the coast, with the most immediate concerns centered on the Panhandle and the adjacent Gulf coastline.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/hurricane-isaias-strengthens-threatens-up-to-9-foot-storm-surge