Category 3 Hurricane Isaias Nears Gulf Coast

Hurricane Isaias intensified into a Category 3 storm Friday morning, October 9, 2026, with maximum sustained winds reaching 120 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. This marks the first major hurricane of the Atlantic season.

Data from an Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter aircraft confirmed the storm's increased strength. The National Hurricane Center issued an advisory at 4 a.m. CDT Friday, forecasting landfall between Gulf Shores, Alabama, and Destin, Florida. Residents in Winter Park are monitoring the storm's approach, particularly those near Lake Maitland and the Chain of Lakes.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey ordered non-residents to evacuate several areas Thursday. Coastal residents should heed official advisories and any evacuation orders. Central Florida officials urge caution and preparedness, advising residents to secure homes, especially those in flood-prone areas like the Hannibal Square neighborhood.

Rain has already begun in the Panhandle and southern Georgia, with intensity expected to increase as Isaias moves north. The National Hurricane Center warns of heavy rain, flash flooding, urban flooding, and river flooding across the central U.S. Gulf Coast and much of the Southeast. These conditions could extend into Tennessee and North Carolina this weekend, potentially impacting inland areas like Winter Park.