Hurricane Isaias slams Florida Gulf Coast as first hurricane of 2026 Atlantic season, then weakens to post-tropical cyclone

Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, as the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season before being downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone, leaving hundreds of thousands of customers without power across the southeastern United States.

Isaias came ashore with maximum sustained winds of 169 km/h (105 mph), the National Hurricane Center said. By Saturday, the downgraded system was located about 89 km south-southwest of Montgomery with winds of 100 km/h (65 mph), still moving north and expected to cross Alabama into the Tennessee Valley later on Saturday and Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. On Friday evening, hurricane-force winds had extended up to 35 miles (55 km) from the storm’s centre, while tropical storm-force winds reached as far as 205 miles (335 km). The hurricane centre warned that storm surge could reach 0.91–1.52 metres (three to five feet) from Dauphin Island, Alabama, to Florida’s Aucilla River.

Flooding and damage across the Gulf Coast

Roads in Destin flooded as the storm pushed ashore, and in nearby Pensacola, police warned residents to stay off the streets because of debris. A social media video showed a roof being ripped off an inn in Pensacola. Parts of southern Alabama also flooded, with officials in Mobile reporting downed trees and power lines. Roads in Houston County, Alabama, were closed because of similar conditions. Some Panhandle counties temporarily suspended emergency response on Friday night because of dangerous conditions. The storm grounded most Friday flights at several airports, including all flights in and out of Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport.

Power outages and emergency response

More than 400,000 customers were without power in Florida on Saturday morning, according to PowerOutage.us, with just over 300,000 out in Alabama and more than 100,000 in Georgia. States of emergency were issued for Florida and Alabama, and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said emergency declarations were approved to ensure federal resources are available. Mandatory evacuations were instituted in both states, with Alabama Governor Kay Ivey ordering all non-residents, tourists, and visitors out of key counties likely to be heavily affected. Senator Rick Scott urged residents in designated areas to leave immediately, warning on social media: “DO NOT WAIT! Get out NOW!” The Florida National Guard deployed about 5,000 soldiers and airmen, with search-and-rescue teams ready, and some prisons evacuated inmates. The Waffle House chain closed locations in the hurricane’s path. President Trump cancelled plans to attend a college football game in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, shifting instead to a rally in Tennessee.

Two other storms strike North America

Simon strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 225 km/h (140 mph) as it barrelled toward Mexico’s Pacific coast, and is set to make landfall near Puerto Vallarta on Sunday, according to Reuters. Simon is expected to bring heavy rainfall over parts of southwestern Mexico, concentrated along the coast of Jalisco and in parts of Michoacan, Colima, and Nayarit, with forecasters warning of life-threatening flooding and mudslides. Tropical Storm Rachel was expected to bring strong winds and rain to northern Mexico and Southern California.

The Atlantic hurricane season has been largely delayed due to El Niño conditions in the Pacific, marking the first time in more than 30 years that a hurricane did not form before October. All warnings pertaining to Isaias had been discontinued on Saturday morning, per the NHC.