Hurricane Isaias Nears Gulf Coast; Warnings Issued

Residents from Myakka City westward to the coast are preparing as Hurricane Isaias approaches the Gulf Coast. Hurricane warnings are in effect for significant portions of the northern Gulf Coast, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm, which became the Atlantic season's first hurricane late Wednesday, continues its path toward the region.

The National Hurricane Center advised residents to prepare for potential storm surge and damaging winds. As of its 2 p.m. ET advisory Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, the center of Isaias was 355 miles south of the Mississippi River's mouth and 185 miles north of Progreso, Mexico. The storm tracked east-northeast at about 10 mph.

Hurricane warnings stretch from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Bay-Gulf county line in the Florida Panhandle. A tropical storm warning covers the Louisiana coast from the Jefferson-Plaquemines parish line west to Ocean Springs, and Florida's coast east of the Bay-Gulf line to the Aucilla River.

A storm surge warning is in effect from the Mississippi River's mouth to the Suwannee River on the Florida Panhandle. A storm surge watch extends from the Steinhatchee River to Yankeetown, Florida.

Earlier Thursday, the National Hurricane Center reported Isaias had strengthened to 85 mph sustained winds. The storm's center was 380 miles south of the Mississippi River's mouth and 170 miles north of Progreso, Mexico, moving east-northeast at 10 mph.

Residents anticipate the storm's arrival by Friday night.