Isaias becomes first Atlantic hurricane of 2026: evacuation zones revealed

Filed 1h ago · Via Newsweek · The Buffoon Desk

THIS STORY IS SCORED

Mary Celeste

Kevin MacLeod · incompetech.com · CC BY 4.0

Photo: CBP Photography · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons

Hurricane Isaias has strengthened into the first Atlantic hurricane of 2026, with sustained winds near 80 mph, and is forecast to make landfall as a strong Category 2 storm along the central Gulf Coast Friday night.

Florida's Okaloosa County ordered mandatory evacuations for coastal areas beginning Thursday at noon, while Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency across 25 counties. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey declared emergencies in 40 counties and issued voluntary evacuation notices for Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

The National Hurricane Center warned of life-threatening storm surge of 5 to 7 feet in parts of the northern Gulf Coast, along with 3 to 7 inches of rain and isolated tornadoes overnight, which forecasters note are especially hard to see coming.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.

Source: Read the original at Newsweek → Scored: Mary Celeste · Kevin MacLeod · CC BY 4.0