Hurricane Isaias hits Florida with Category 2 strength

Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, on Friday as a Category 2 storm. The National Hurricane Center reported maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (169 kph) as the system crossed the coast. Forecasters noted the storm weakened from a Category 3 peak before landfall due to shifts in wind speed. It is expected to cross Alabama and move into the Tennessee Valley over the weekend.

Governors in Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi declared states of emergency ahead of the storm. “The storm is here. Buckle down at this point. Don’t be getting out on the roads,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said at a news conference, warning that flash flooding would be a hazard throughout the region. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced President Donald Trump approved the federal emergency declaration. “This will help cut tape for our federal partners to aid in any response,” Ivey said.

Severe conditions hit coastal communities immediately. In Pensacola, howling winds damaged roofs, snapped tree branches, and knocked out power. NOAA recorded a wind gust of 102 mph (164km/h) at Pensacola city hall and a water level 5.4 feet (1.64 meters) above average in Panama City Beach. By Friday evening, nearly 500,000 customers across Alabama and Florida had lost power. Powerful winds and heavy rain also collapsed a canopy at a Crestview gas station.

State agencies mobilized quickly to manage the crisis. Florida’s National Guard deployed roughly 5,000 soldiers and airmen to assist with the response. The state guard sent about 400 additional troops to assess damage and clear routes. Most flights at Florida Panhandle airports were grounded, and several prisons began evacuating incarcerated populations. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission readied airboats, ATVs, and platform vessels for potential flooding. Uber partnered with the state to provide free round trips up to $40 each way to approved evacuation shelters.

Isaias marks a significant shift in the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. It ties a record as one of the latest-forming Atlantic hurricanes on record, matching a storm from 8 October 1905. None of the eight previous named storms this season intensified above tropical storm status. The approaching system forced oil and gas producers to shut down a significant share of offshore Gulf production, which supplies almost 15% of US crude annually. Dozens of Waffle Houses in the Florida Panhandle also closed ahead of the storm. Locals noted the closures signal the storm's severity, as the chain typically stays open during severe weather.