Isaias weakens after hitting Florida's Gulf Coast
Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, then weakened into a post-tropical cyclone over Alabama. The storm brought heavy rain, strong winds, and power outages to parts of Florida and Alabama. It was expected to move northward and gradually weaken over the weekend.
Isaias came ashore near Destin, Florida, then lost hurricane strength over Alabama and was reclassified as post-tropical. It was forecast to travel north and north-northeast across the Tennessee and Ohio valleys during the weekend, steadily diminishing. The system led to mandatory evacuations in multiple Florida counties and halted operations at two airports in the state's northwest.
Over 300,000 Florida customers and 200,000 Alabama customers lacked power Friday night. Near the Alabama-Florida border, surge water was predicted to rise roughly 9 feet, while intense rainfall threatened flash floods and overflowing rivers. Gulf temperatures at record highs, linked to climate change, aided rapid strengthening; Isaias was the first mainland U.S. hurricane since Milton in 2024.
Coastal residents in Florida and Alabama may face extended outages, flooded roads, and damaged homes, while evacuation orders could disrupt work and local business. Repair crews and emergency responders could be strained restoring power and water. Travelers may encounter delays from airport suspensions. Inland communities farther north could still see flood risks from heavy rain, though weakening winds should limit broader destruction.