Isaias has strengthened into the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season, and evacuation guidance has been issued in Alabama and Florida before its expected landfall on Friday night. Isaias is expected to lash the central Gulf Coast and parts of the Southeast with heavy rain and destructive winds,

The National Hurricane Center initiated advisories -- and the all-important track maps -- on Tropical Depression Nine on Tuesday afternoon. Forecasters said the depression could become Tropical Storm Isaias (pronounced ees-ah-EE-ahs) by Wednesday and then the first hurricane of 2026 on Thursday as it tracks northward toward the Gulf Coast.

Isaias surged toward the U.S. Gulf Coast on Thursday as the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, prompting mandatory evacuations, school closures and local government shutdowns in parts of Florida.

Hurricane Isaias is expected to gain strength and become a Category 2 storm before making landfall. Track where it's going, current wind speed here.

Free sand for sandbags was offered at eight locations, and a Pensacola hardware store sold out of generators before noon Thursday.

Isaias was a Category 1 hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico Thursday afternoon Central time, the National Hurricane Center said in its latest advisory. Isaias is the ninth named storm to form in the Atlantic in 2026. Follow the latest updates on Isaias here.

The Atlantic hurricane season is unusually quiet in 2026, and millions of Americans are asking the same questions: Why has hurricane season been so quiet? Where are the hurricanes? Will storm activity increase as peak season approaches? With the busiest ...

The National Hurricane Center has issued new updates on Hurricane Isaias. The tracks are shifting East again. Here's the forecast for Bay County: