Isaias hits Category 2, 100 mph winds; landfall late Friday or Saturday
Isaias strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane Thursday with winds near 100 mph, and at 7 p.m. CDT it was about 290 miles south of the Mississippi River mouth. A hurricane warning runs from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Florida Panhandle. Landfall is still expected late Friday or early Saturday.
Hurricane Isaias is now a Category 2 storm and closing in on the northern Gulf Coast.
At 7 p.m. Central time Thursday, the National Hurricane Center put the eye about 290 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River. Top winds were near 100 mph, up from 75 mph early Thursday. The storm was moving northeast at 13 mph. Central pressure was 974 millibars.
Hurricane hunters found the stronger winds earlier Thursday afternoon in Advisory 9, the center said. An intermediate update at 7 p.m. held the 100 mph reading and urged people in the warning area to finish storm-surge and wind preparations. The Associated Press also reported that Isaias had become a Category 2 hurricane on a path toward the U.S. Gulf Coast.
A hurricane warning remains in effect from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Bay/Gulf County line in Florida. A storm-surge warning covers the coast from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Florida's Suwannee River. Tropical storm warnings stretch west into Louisiana and east toward Florida's Aucilla River.
Forecasters still expect landfall late Friday or early Saturday somewhere in the warning area. Storm surge of several feet remains the main threat along the outer coast and in Mobile Bay and other bays. Heavy rain and damaging winds are also likely near the track.
How to follow: The National Hurricane Center posts new public advisories at least every six hours at nhc.noaa.gov, with intermediate updates when the storm is changing. Local National Weather Service offices issue watches, warnings and evacuation notices for each county.
Isaias is the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2026 season, the Associated Press and Fox Weather reported. Early Thursday it was a newly upgraded hurricane with 75 mph winds north of Mexico's Yucatan.
What we know: Isaias is a Category 2 hurricane with 100 mph winds, a hurricane warning is up on the northern Gulf Coast, and landfall is still due late Friday or early Saturday.
What we don't: Exactly where the eye will come ashore, and whether winds will rise further overnight before landfall.
Where outlets agree The Associated Press and Fox Weather both report Isaias is a Category 2 hurricane with 100 mph winds.
Where they differ The Associated Press says Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey ordered nonresidents to evacuate Gulf Shores, while Fox Weather quotes Gulf Shores officials urging nonresidents to evacuate voluntarily.