Hurricane, Storm Surge Warnings Issued: Prepare Now for Isaias

Residents across the eastern Florida Panhandle, Florida Big Bend, southeastern Alabama, and southwestern Georgia must immediately prepare for Tropical Storm Isaias. The National Weather Service in Tallahassee, FL has upgraded several watches to warnings as of 11:14 PM EDT on October 7, 2026. These warnings are effective until 7:15 AM UTC on October 8, 2026, with further updates expected around 6 AM EDT.

A Hurricane Warning and Storm Surge Warning are now in effect for Coastal Bay and South Walton. A Storm Surge Warning and Tropical Storm Warning are in effect for Coastal Franklin, Coastal Gulf, Coastal Jefferson, and Coastal Wakulla. A Storm Surge Warning is also in effect for Coastal Taylor. Tropical Storm Watches have been issued for numerous inland counties, including Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Holmes, Houston, Inland Bay, Inland Franklin, Inland Gulf, Inland Wakulla, Jackson, Northern Liberty, Southern Liberty, Washington, and Calhoun.

Tropical Storm Isaias, with 70 mph winds, is 630 miles southwest of Panama City and moving east-northeast at 9 mph. Conditions are expected to deteriorate as early as Friday morning. Coastal areas could see life-threatening storm surge of 5-7 feet above normally dry ground. Widespread rainfall of 3-7 inches, with isolated totals up to 10 inches, may cause significant flooding. Isolated tornadoes are possible across the Florida Panhandle and southeastern Alabama from Friday into Saturday.

Residents should finalize emergency plans, secure outdoor property, and monitor official updates from weather.gov, NOAA Weather Radio, and local news. If in a flood-prone area, plan to move to higher ground. Heed all local official advice and evacuation orders. Check on vulnerable neighbors and ensure cell phones are charged. The next update is expected around 6 AM EDT.