Dangerous Hurricane Isaias Barrels Toward Gulf Coast, Could Slam Ashore as a Category 2 This Weekend
Isaias is forecast to rapidly strengthen into the Atlantic's first hurricane of the season, with forecasters warning of life-threatening storm surge and flooding rain from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle.
A tropical storm churning in the Gulf of Mexico is on track to become a dangerous hurricane by the end of the week, with the National Hurricane Center warning that Isaias could slam into the northern Gulf Coast as a Category 2 storm as early as Friday night or Saturday morning.
As of Wednesday, Isaias had sustained winds of 45 mph and was positioned more than 500 miles south-southwest of far southeast Louisiana, according to the National Hurricane Center. Forecasters expect the storm to intensify rapidly over the Gulf's warm waters, with some models showing it peaking near 110 mph before landfall.
Who's in the Crosshairs
The hurricane center's initial track puts the center of Isaias coming ashore somewhere between eastern Louisiana and the western Florida Panhandle, and a hurricane watch is already in effect for the coasts of Alabama, the western Florida Panhandle and Mississippi, covering winds of 74 mph or stronger.
Officials are warning residents in those areas to finish storm prep now. Forecasters say 3 to 6 inches of rain are likely from far southeast Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle, with isolated totals up to 10 inches raising the risk of flash flooding well inland.
LOCATIONS FROM EASTERN MISSISSIPPI TO ALABAMA, INCLUDING MOBILE BAY, COULD SEE 5 TO 7 FEET OF STORM SURGE ABOVE NORMALLY DRY GROUND
Tropical storm-force winds could reach the coast by midday Friday, with hurricane conditions possible near and just inland of wherever the center ultimately comes ashore late Friday into Saturday, per NBC News' forecast tracking.
This would mark the first hurricane of what has been a notably slow Atlantic season, and local officials in coastal counties across three states have begun urging residents to review evacuation routes and secure loose property ahead of the weekend.
What's Next
The Hurricane Center is expected to issue updated advisories roughly every six hours as Isaias approaches the Gulf Coast, with the exact landfall location remaining uncertain until the storm draws closer to shore. Emergency officials in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle are expected to make evacuation decisions for low-lying and surge-prone areas by Thursday.