Article first published: Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, 4 a.m. ET

Article last updated: Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, 1 a.m. ET

System type: Hurricane, Category 1

System name: Isaias

According to the National Hurricane Center’s 1 a.m. Saturday advisory, there were several developments, particularly at night. Isaias became a Category 3 hurricane, before weakening to a Category 2 hurricane. Then, it was downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 90 mph. Isaias first crossed the Gulf of Mexico, entered Florida and then headed to Alabama. Category 1 Hurricane Isaias is 80 miles north-northeast of Pensacola, Florida and 55 miles south-southwest of Montgomery, Alabama. The hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, is moving north at 20 mph.

“… Isaias is expected to move across Alabama and into the Tennessee Valley later today and Sunday,” analysts noted about the hurricane. They also said “Continued weakening is expected, but Isaias is expected to continue producing gusty winds well inland before weakening below gale force later today.”

Changes with this advisory

The Storm Surge Warning west of Santa Rosa/Okaloosa County Line has been discontinued. The Hurricane Warning west of the Alabama/Florida line has been discontinued. The Hurricane Warning from east of the Alabama/Florida line to the Bay/Gulf County Line, FL has been changed to a Tropical Storm Warning.

Watches and warnings currently in effect

• Storm Surge Warning for Santa Rosa/Okaloosa County Line to the Suwannee River

• Tropical Storm Warning for East of Alabama/Florida Line to Aucilla River, FL

Meaning of the different watches and warnings

A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline. For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.

Hazards affecting land

Storm surge. The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide…

Santa Rosa/Okaloosa County Line, FL to Suwannee River, FL…2-4 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.

For a complete depiction of areas at risk of storm surge inundation, please see the National Weather Service Peak Storm Surge Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?peakSurge.

Wind. Tropical storm conditions are ongoing in the warning area for the next several hours.

Rainfall. Through the weekend, Isaias is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches across southern Alabama, the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend, and southwest Georgia. Localized totals up to 15 inches are possible, particularly within banding across the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend.

Across much of the remainder of the Southeast, rainfall amounts of 2 to 5 inches are expected. Localized higher amounts up to 10 inches are possible, especially across the Southern Appalachians and coastal Carolinas. Flash, urban, and river flooding is possible across the region, with considerable impacts likely across much of southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle into southwestern Georgia. Considerable flash flooding and landslides are also possible across the Southern Appalachians.

For a complete forecast of rainfall associated with Isaias, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?rainqpf and the Flash Flood Risk graphic at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?ero.

Tornadoes. A risk for tornadoes will persist overnight across the Florida Panhandle and north Florida into southern Georgia. The tornado threat will continue today across parts of the Florida Panhandle, Georgia, and the Carolinas.

Surf. Swells from Isaias are affecting much of the Gulf coasts of the United States, Mexico, and western Cuba. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

A depiction of rip current risk for the United States can be found at: hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?ripCurrents

Source: National Hurricane Center