The outer bands of Hurricane Isaias are already impacting the Panhandle and north Florida, the state's Division of Emergency Management says.

In its latest update, it adds that conditions are "expected to deteriorate as the storm approaches landfall" and warns of potential flooding.

People are advised to not drive or walk through floodwaters; monitor weather alerts and local official guidance; and take photos of damage and flooding high-water marks.

Image source, Gallo Images/Orbital Horizon/Copernicus Sentinel Data 2025

Hurricane Isaias has been classified as a category three hurricane by the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Hurricanes are ranked on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, a rating from one to five depending on how severe the weather event is.

Those that reach category three and above are considered major because of the potential for significant loss of life and damage.

For Isaias, this means "devastating damage will occur", as per the scale's description from the NHC: well-built homes may incur major damage, many trees will be snapped, roads may be blocked, and electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks.

Winds for category three are between 111-129 mph (178-208km/h).

The NHC's latest public advisory on Isaias says it is expected to be at or near major strength when it makes landfall this evening, and it will subsequently weaken.

Image source, Reuters

As Hurricane Isaias edges towards Florida, residents have been speaking to Reuters news agency.

Jane Driscoll from Escambia County says because it's a hurricane, they've had a few days of warning.

"So over the last three days, we have been preparing our home, our yard, making sure we have enough non-perishable food. A gallon of water per person and animal, per day."

She adds that there's only so much they can do, and they "hope and pray that the hurricane will soften".

Thomas Santiago says they have had category three hurricanes hit the area previously, and then "they just kind of fizzle out".

"It doesn't look like it's gonna be that bad, but it's supposed to roll in at 11 o'clock (0400 GMT) tonight with the tornadoes. That's the worst part."

Speaking near a local beach, Haille Hill says she doesn't "know why everyone's on the beach, I wouldn't be on the beach".

"It's a little scary, but I hope everyone's OK and everyone gets through it."

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

Tropical storm conditions have begun along the northern Gulf Coast, the National Hurricane Center says in its latest update.

It adds that preparations against "life-threatening storm surge and devastating winds should be completed in the next couple of hours".

The center defines a tropical storm as sustained winds of 39-73 mph (63-118km/h).

The state of Florida has partnered with taxi service Uber to provide Floridians free rides to shelters as Hurricane Isaias approaches.

The company is offering free round-trip rides, to and from a state-approved emergency shelter, up to the value of $40 (£30) each way.

The Florida Division of Emergency Management says to claim a ride to safety, users should:

• Open the Uber app
• Tap Account then Wallet and add the promo code ISAIAS26

Nearby shelters can be found on the Florida Disaster website., external

Image source, @GovRonDeSantis

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warns the hurricane could be "very, very dangerous" for parts of his state.

"You're going to have a risk of a lot of water being dumped with this storm," he says in a video update shared on X.

"It's not just a coastal event. There will be major impacts on the interior, particularly with flooding and with rising water."

In a subsequent post, he adds: "Now is the time to finalize your plans.

"If you are not evacuating, make sure you have everything you need to shelter in place."

Image source, Reuters

As hurricane Isaias approaches the US, several transportation cancellations have already been confirmed.

National rail provider Amtrak says its services from New Orleans to Mobile are suspended until Sunday, white its New Orleans-to-Atlanta service is suspended until Monday.

Several airports have announced they are closing due to the storm, including Pensacola International and Destin-Fort Walton Beach in Florida, and Alabama's Gulf Shores International.

The Federal Aviation Administration warns that further cancellations could be seen at Orlando International, Tampa International, Miami International and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airports.

Interstate bus company Greyhound has also warned that Isaias may cause delays or cancellations on some routes.

In its latest update the National Weather Service (NWS) says "numerous" instances of flash flooding are likely after Isaias makes landfall - "some of which will be significant".

It says Isaias is expected to make landfall on the Central Gulf Coast later Friday, bringing 4-8in of rainfall (10-20cm) across southern Alabama, the Florida Panhandle and south-west Georgia.

It also warns that localised rainfall totals of up to 15in (38cm) are possible in some areas.

Image source, Getty Images

In its most recent update, the National Hurricane Center warns that Isaias will likely cause a "life-threatening storm surge and devastating winds" along the Florida and Alabama coasts.

The centre - or the eye - of the storm is expected to reach the western Florida Panhandle on Friday evening local time, it adds.

"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."

Image source, Getty Images

As we mentioned earlier, there parts of Florida, Alabama and Georgia have declared states of emergency.

In parts of Alabama and Florida, there are also mandatory evacuation orders in place, which direct people to leave a specific area due to an immediate danger.

Alabama

Governor of Alabama Kay Ivey announced mandatory evacuation orders for all non-residents, tourists and visitors in key counties likely to be heavily affected by the storm, including all of Baldwin County, and parts of Mobile County.

Residents of the most vulnerable coastal areas of Mobile are also encouraged to voluntarily evacuate, "before conditions deteriorate", the county's emergency response agency said on its web page.

Florida

Local officials issued mandatory evacuation orders across a handful of coastal counties along the Florida Panhandle, including Escambia County, where Pensacola is, as well as Okaloosa County, Walton County and Franklin County.

Florida Senator Rick Scott encouraged residents in designated areas to evacuate as soon as possible, as he warned in a social media post: "DO NOT WAIT! Get out NOW!"

Rachel Clun
Business reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Workers have been evacuated from more than 100 oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico and more than half of all offshore production has been halted ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Isaias.

The US Marine Minerals Administration said personnel had been evacuated from 121 of the 371 manned platforms in the Gulf.

The agency estimates about 63% of the daily offshore oil production and 57% of daily natural gas production has been halted, reducing production of crude oil by 1.3 barrels per day.

The agency said it would work with offshore operators and other agencies until the storm is no longer a threat to the area and production can return to normal, inspecting facilities before they can be brought back online.

Those facilities accounted for 15% of all US crude oil production and 2% of natural gas as of 2024, according to the American Petroleum Institute.

The cut to production comes as global oil prices remain above $100 a barrel, putting continued upward pressure on fuel prices.

Flights delays are to be expected as a result of Gulf route closures, the Federal Aviation Administration writes on social media.

Miami, Orlando and Tampa are places likely to experience these delays, it adds.

Other airports in particularly vulnerable areas have already closed in preparation ahead of the storm, including:

• Pensacola International Airport in Florida
• Destin-Fort Walton Beach airport in Florida
• Gulf Shores International Airport in Alabama

In Alabama, the Gulf Shores International director says they will "reopen as soon as conditions are safe for our staff to assess the airport’s condition after the storm".

Simon King
Lead weather presenter, BBC Weather

For the first time in more than 30 years, a hurricane has not formed in the Atlantic throughout September - normally the most active month for hurricane activity.

The biggest reason for this is El Niño, which traditionally stifles activity in the Atlantic but brings a very active season in the eastern North Pacific. Strong winds blowing at different speeds and directions at higher altitudes rip apart thunderstorms, preventing them from growing into tropical storms or hurricanes.

With a very strong El Niño forecast, the US National Hurricane Center in May predicted a total of eight to 14 named storms. Of those, three to six were predicted to become hurricanes, with one to three becoming major hurricanes.

This year marks the latest date on record since the start of the satellite era (1960s onward) where no hurricane has formed in the North Atlantic.

There were, however, four named tropical storms that formed in September: Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo and Hanna. All but Edouard stayed out in the open waters of the Atlantic.

Image source, getty

Amtrak, the American national rail service provider, announced cancellations of some train services in the region due to the storm.

This includes:

• New Orleans, Louisiana to Mobile, Alabama: The “Mardi Gras” service, which runs twice daily, will be cancelled till Sunday 11 October
• New Orleans to Atlanta, Georgia: The Crescent service will resume on Monday 12 October, the Southern Rail Commission announced

Meanwhile, CSX - a major American freight railroad and transportation company - issued a customer advisory Thursday, stating that it would be “closely monitoring” the storm.

Simon King
Lead weather presenter, BBC Weather

This season has been extremely quiet for hurricanes with Isaias setting a new record for the latest date a hurricane has formed in the modern era.

The reason for the quiet activity is down to the record El Niño - the warming of the tropical Pacific. El Niño disrupts weather patterns around the world and for the Atlantic brings stronger winds higher in the atmosphere.

These stronger winds limit hurricane formation by essentially ripping developing thunderstorms apart before they can organise themselves into a larger weather system and storms.

Forecasters had therefore already predicted this season would be below average.

But, even if a season is expected to be quiet, it only takes one hurricane to make landfall and bring life-threatening impacts.

Sakshi Venkatraman
US reporter

Image source, Reuters

Several US states have declared states of emergency as Hurricane Isaias approaches the northern Gulf Coast.

Florida

Governor Ron DeSantis placed 25 counties under a state of emergency on Tuesday, urging people to have a plan and stock up on emergency supplies.

The order mostly impacts the Panhandle and Big Bend regions of the state, including the cities of Pensacola and Panama City.

Alabama

Governor Kay Ivey placed 40 counties under a state of emergency until next Wednesday. They include Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, and Washington counties.

Several government offices will also shut early on Friday as residents prepare for the storm.

Georgia

The entire state of Georgia is under a state of emergency, Governor Brian Kemp declared Wednesday.

"I encourage all Georgians to prepare now by stocking up on food, batteries, flashlights, water, and other necessities," he wrote on X.

Simon King
Lead weather presenter, BBC Weather

The hurricane is currently moving roughly north in the Gulf of Mexico at a speed of around 16mph.

Current track estimates will bring the outer edges with strengthening winds and heavy rain from Friday afternoon US time in the Gulf Coast area of Missouri and the Florida Panhandle.

Isaias is forecast to weaken slightly before the centre - the eye - makes landfall in the early hours of Saturday morning.

There will also be a life-threatening storm surge of up to 6ft (1.8m) from the Mouth of the Mississippi River to Suwannee, Florida.

Throughout Saturday, as a tropical storm, Isaias will continue to move north into Alabama and the eastern side of Missouri bringing heavy rain and strong winds.

Simon King
Lead weather presenter, BBC Weather

Hurricane Hunter aircraft have been monitoring Hurricane Isaias all morning with the latest data now showing the hurricane has sustained wind speeds of 120mph (193km/h), with even higher gusts.

This now places Isaias, the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2026 season, as a category three "major hurricane".

By the time it is expected to make landfall on the Gulf Coast of Missouri and Florida Panhandle (late Friday or early Saturday morning US time), it will weaken but still bring dangerous, life threatening storm surge, strong winds and flooding rains.

We'll bring you all the key updates right here, including where evacuation orders are in place, what we should expect when the storm makes landfall and where major traffic disruptions are occurring. Stick with us.

Image source, ZOOM EARTH