Isaias nears Panhandle landfall as a major hurricane

Hurricane Isaias strengthened into a Category 3 storm with winds near 120 mph, prompting Gov. Ron DeSantis to declare emergencies in 27 Florida Panhandle counties ahead of an expected Friday night landfall between Pensacola and Destin. Mandatory evacuations covered low-lying and waterfront areas in five counties, with tolls suspended and shelters opened.

Florida mobilized 5,000 National Guard members, and emergency officials warned of 5 to 7 feet of storm surge, flash flooding and possible tornadoes. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey ordered non-residents out of coastal Baldwin and Mobile counties.

The National Weather Service forecast 4 to 8 inches of rain across the region, with isolated totals up to 15 inches, before Isaias weakens inland and tracks toward the Tennessee and Ohio valleys as a remnant low by Sunday.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.