Isaias Nears Central Gulf Coast, Could Reach Category 2

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Hurricane Isaias is the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season, and it is projected to make landfall along the central Gulf Coast Friday night. AccuWeather forecasters expect it to reach Category 2 strength, with gusts up to 120 mph near the coast from Alabama into the Florida Panhandle. Rainfall totals of 1 to 12 inches, locally up to 25 inches, could lead to flooding in saturated areas, while a 6- to 10-foot storm surge is expected in parts of Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle. AccuWeather experts caution that damaging winds and power outages may extend well inland. Disclosure: This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.

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00:00Hurricane Isaias has become the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season, making it the latest first hurricane in over

00:07100 years.

00:09AccuWeather meteorologists say Isaias is expected to hit the central U.S. Gulf Coast late Friday night or early Saturday

00:15morning as a strong Category 2 storm.

00:18Warm Gulf waters and favorable wind shear could allow Isaias to rapidly strengthen, with a chance it peaks as a

00:25Category 3 hurricane.

00:26A storm surge of 6 to 10 feet is forecast along the Alabama and western Florida panhandle coasts, with waves

00:33reaching up to 15 feet.

00:35Heavy rainfall of 1 to 4 inches is expected across the southeast, with localized totals up to 25 inches near

00:42the storm's path.

00:43Wind gusts of 100 to 120 miles per hour could cause power outages well inland, especially in Alabama.

00:50Severe thunderstorms and tornado risks will extend hundreds of miles east of the storm.

00:55Isaias will track north into the interior southeast, and possibly the Ohio Valley this weekend.

01:01Disclosure. This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.

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