Urgent: Isaias Intensifying, Major Hurricane Threat to Florida Panhandle

Residents in the eastern Florida panhandle, Florida Big Bend, southeastern Alabama, and southwestern Georgia must finalize hurricane preparations immediately. The National Weather Service (NWS) Tallahassee FL issued a Tropical Cyclone Local Statement at 5:30 AM EDT today, October 9, warning that Hurricane Isaias is intensifying and expected to become a major hurricane soon.

Isaias, currently with 110 mph winds and moving north-northeast at 15 mph, is forecast to make landfall along the Florida Panhandle or Southern Alabama coast tonight as a dangerous hurricane. Conditions are expected to deteriorate across the Florida Panhandle as early as this morning, then inland this afternoon.

A Storm Surge Warning and Hurricane Warning are in effect for Coastal Bay and South Walton. Life-threatening inundation of 5 to 7 feet above normally dry ground is forecast for the coastal Panhandle to Indian Pass. Tropical Storm Warnings are active for numerous counties including Coffee, Dale, Henry, Geneva, Houston, and many more across Florida, Alabama, and Georgia. Significant rainfall of 4 to 8 inches, with isolated totals up to 15 inches, could cause flash flooding. A heightened tornado risk is also present from today into Saturday.

Heed all evacuation orders and have your emergency plans in place. Ensure you are in a safe location before strong winds or flooding begin. Keep cell phones charged and monitor official storm information from weather.gov, NOAA Weather Radio, or local news outlets. Remember, 911 services may be unable to respond during the storm. The next NWS update is expected around 12 PM EDT.