Hurricane Isaias, a Category 3 storm, nears Florida Panhandle landfall tonight
Hurricane Isaias was a Category 3 storm with 115 mph winds Friday afternoon, about 90 miles south of Pensacola, Florida. The National Hurricane Center expects it to hit the western Florida Panhandle this evening. Storm surge could reach 9 feet, and some spots could get 15 inches of rain.
Hurricane Isaias is about to come ashore on the northern Gulf Coast as a major hurricane.
At 4 p.m. Central time Friday, the National Hurricane Center put the center about 90 miles south of Pensacola, Florida. Top winds were near 115 mph, which makes Isaias a Category 3 storm. It was moving north at 17 mph. The center expects landfall on the western Florida Panhandle this evening, with little change in strength before then.
Conditions were already getting worse. A gust of 56 mph hit Pensacola Naval Air Station, and a gust of 58 mph was measured near Gulf Breeze. The center told people in the warning areas to get to safe shelter now.
Storm surge is the top danger. Water could rise 6 to 9 feet above ground from the Alabama-Florida line to Grayton Beach, Florida. It could reach 4 to 7 feet from Grayton Beach to Indian Pass. A hurricane warning runs from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Bay/Gulf County line in Florida.
Hurricane-force winds could reach as far as 100 miles inland into southern Alabama. Tornadoes are possible tonight in the Panhandle, southeast Alabama and south Georgia, and on Saturday into the Carolinas.
Rain will spread far inland this weekend. The center expects 4 to 8 inches across southern Alabama, the Panhandle and southwest Georgia, with up to 15 inches in spots. Much of the rest of the Southeast could get 2 to 5 inches. Yale Climate Connections said long-lasting gusts over 60 mph could bring down trees and knock out power across inland Alabama and the mountains of north Georgia, eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina this weekend.
Isaias is the first hurricane of this Atlantic season, WBTV reported. It grew fast. It was a Category 2 storm on Thursday. Hurricane hunters found 120 mph winds early Friday, making it a major hurricane. Forecasters had expected some weakening from wind shear before landfall.
After landfall, the center expects Isaias to cross Alabama and reach the Tennessee Valley by Sunday, weakening as it goes. The next full advisory is due at 10 p.m. Central time. Live updates are posted at hurricanes.gov.
What we know: Isaias is a Category 3 hurricane with 115 mph winds, and the hurricane center expects landfall on the western Florida Panhandle this evening.
What we don't: Exactly where the eye will come ashore, how strong it will be then, and how high the surge will run.
Where outlets agree Yale Climate Connections and WBTV both report that Isaias became a major Category 3 hurricane on Friday and will hit the Gulf Coast near the Florida Panhandle.
Where they differ WBTV's 10:47 a.m. ET forecast pointed to landfall early Saturday between Mobile and Pensacola, while Yale Climate Connections expects it on the western Florida Panhandle on Friday evening.