Hurricane Isaias Nears Coast: Warnings Issued for Panhandle, Big Bend

Tallahassee, FL – October 8, 2026 – The National Weather Service (NWS) in Tallahassee has issued a Tropical Cyclone Local Statement tonight at 11:38 PM EDT, indicating Hurricane Isaias is nearing major hurricane strength and poses significant threats to the eastern Florida Panhandle, Florida Big Bend, southeastern Alabama, and southwestern Georgia.

Residents in Coastal Bay and South Walton are under a Storm Surge Warning and Hurricane Warning. A Hurricane Warning is also in effect for Central Walton and North Walton. Multiple counties across the region are under Tropical Storm Warnings or Watches, including Coffee, Dale, Henry, Geneva, Houston, Holmes, Washington, Jackson, Gadsden, Leon, Quitman, Clay, Randolph, Calhoun, Terrell, Dougherty, Lee, Worth, Early, Miller, Baker, Mitchell, Colquitt, Seminole, Decatur, Grady, and Thomas. Conditions could begin to deteriorate as early as Friday morning.

Hurricane Isaias, with 105 mph winds, is about 360 miles south-southwest of Panama City, moving northeast at 14 mph. The NWS anticipates additional strengthening, with Isaias possibly reaching major hurricane status before weakening as it approaches the coast, with landfall expected Friday night along the Florida Panhandle or Southern Alabama coast.

Life-threatening storm surge of 5 to 7 feet above normally dry ground is forecast for the coastal Panhandle, with significant surge expected along the Big Bend coast. Flash flooding is likely from 4 to 8 inches of rain, possibly up to 15 inches locally, especially across the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend. A Flood Watch remains in effect from Friday afternoon through Saturday evening for counties along and west of the I-75 corridor, the FL Big Bend, and eastern FL Big Bend. A heightened tornado risk is also present across the Florida Panhandle and Western FL Big Bend on Friday into Saturday, and Southeast AL & Southwest GA late Friday into Saturday.

Residents should complete all preparations now and be in a safe location before strong winds or flooding begin. Heed all evacuation orders from local officials. Avoid driving through flooded roadways; turn around, don't drown. Monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather radio, or local news for updates. The next NWS update is expected around 6 AM EDT.