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World

Isaias reaches Category 2 strength as northeast turn sets up Friday Gulf Coast landfall

Hurricane Isaias strengthened to Category 2 with 100 mph winds on Thursday afternoon, making its expected turn toward the northeast as forecasters warn of a dangerous Friday landfall between Pascagoula, Mississippi, and Panama City Beach, Florida.

By James Calloway · · 2 min read

NOAA GOES-19 infrared satellite image from 8 October 2026 showing Hurricane Isaias as an organized Category 2 storm with a visible eye over the northern Gulf of Mexico.
NOAA GOES-19 satellite imagery (public domain)

Hurricane Isaias strengthened to Category 2 strength on Thursday afternoon, with maximum sustained winds reaching 100 mph as the storm made its expected turn toward the northeast over the Gulf of Mexico.

The National Hurricane Center’s 4 p.m. CT advisory clocked Isaias at 100 mph, the Pensacola News Journal reported, less than 24 hours after it became the season’s first hurricane at 75 mph. The NHC’s 5 p.m. ET advisory placed the centre 325 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River, moving northeast at 12 mph, USA Today reported, with the News Journal reporting that satellite and aircraft fixes confirmed the anticipated northeast turn.

Forecasters expect Isaias to make landfall late Friday between Pascagoula, Mississippi, and Panama City Beach, Florida, USA Today reported, with model guidance ranging from Mobile to Panama City, according to the News Journal. “We are expecting Isaias to be a dangerous hurricane when it makes landfall,” NHC director Michael Brennan said.

“Preparations to protect life and property from storm surge and damaging winds in the warning area should be rushed to completion today,” the NHC said.

Hurricane warnings stretch from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Bay/Gulf County Line, Florida, with storm-surge, flooding and high-wind watches and warnings covering more than 600 miles of coastline from southeastern Louisiana to south of Tallahassee, USA Today reported.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 25 North Florida counties, from Escambia to Baker, on 6 October, the News Journal reported. Some North Florida schools closed ahead of the storm, with others closed on Friday; forecasters warn of hurricane-force winds, life-threatening storm surge, heavy rain and a tornado risk across the state.

Sources

More on this topic: all World stories

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