Live updates: Landfall imminent as Hurricane Isaias' eyewall reaches coast

Hurricane Isaias’ northern eyewall is beginning to push onshore near Pensacola, bringing torrential rain that could trigger significant, life-threatening flash flooding. 

Landfall is now considered imminent as Isaias closes in on the Gulf Coast.

Conditions are deteriorating quickly in Pensacola, where photos show downed trees and flipped trucks.

The first hurricane-force wind gust (75 mph) was recorded in nearby Perdido Bay, Florida.

Meteorologist Jonathan Belles warns “winds are continuing to escalate and are likely to increase pretty rapidly in the next hour.”

The Pensacola Bay Bridge, also known as the Three Mile Bridge, is now closed to traffic.

The bridge connects Pensacola to Gulf Breeze and serves as one of the main routes into and out of Pensacola Beach.

Isaias is now showing signs of being affected by wind shear. You can start to see flat edges on the thunderstorms (the green) on the left side where the jet stream is directly affecting Isaias but also shoving dry air (in orange) into the storm.

Power outages are climbing across Alabama and Florida as tropical-storm-force winds begin sweeping through parts of the Gulf Coast.

In Florida, more than 16,000 customers are without power, with the largest impacts in Leon and Escambia counties, home to Tallahassee and Pensacola, respectively.

In Alabama, about 13,000 outages have been reported in Mobile County, according to PowerOutage.us.

Watch the POV of Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters as they flew through Hurricane Isaias Friday afternoon.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warns residents that if pets are left behind in the path of the hurricane, owners can be prosecuted.

“You better treat them properly,” DeSantis said. “If you don’t, if you abuse one of these pets … you will be held accountable.”

This comes a year after legislation was signed into law to impose tougher penalties on people who abandon pets during natural disasters, following Hurricane Milton. Under the new law, violations are punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

DeSantis says there are pet-friendly shelters available for those who need them.

Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola has opened its gates to utility crews preparing for restoration work after Hurricane Isaias.

The speedway's parking lot is already at capacity.

President Trump will no longer attend tomorrow’s matchup between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs as Hurricane Isaias threatens to bring stormy conditions across Alabama.

Trump said he wants first responders and law enforcement focused on the approaching storm, adding that he plans to visit both teams at a later date.

He will travel to Tennessee instead.

Some 98% of the U.S.’s crude oil refining capacity will not be affected by Hurricane Isaias, according to CNBC.com. Of course, that’s the glass-half-full approach, and even when it’s only 2% of the overall refining capacity that’s being affected by the storm, that could mean a slight uptick of already-high gas prices. So we may have dodged a bullet with regards to the Gulf’s oil refineries, but any impacts would certainly add to the pain at the pump.

From up here, Isaias is silent. It turns over the Gulf, slow and enormous, as the coast waits beneath it.

Hurricanes often wobble a bit on their way toward land and landfall can skew earlier or later depending on the shape of the coastline. 

But if Isaias continues its current motion, we would estimate its landfall to be between 7 and 8 p.m. CT probably in the western Florida Panhandle. 

The hurricane’s strongest winds — in the eyewall — could arrive along the coast an hour or so before that. That could prompt the National Weather Service to issue rare “extreme wind warnings” for these most intense, destructive winds. 

The storm surge — the rapid rise in water levels as Gulf water is pushed to the coast — will also accompany the landfall along and east of the center.

Parts of the Florida Panhandle and southern Georgia have already seen significant rainfall over the past 7 days, leaving soils soggy and saturated in some areas. 

With more heavy rain expected from Hurricane Isaias, already wet-ground could struggle to absorb additional moisture which increases the risk for flash flooding and runoff. 

It’s not just the coast. Smaller rivers, creeks, and streams farther island could rise rapidly, threatening communities well beyond areas facing storm surge

Events planned for Saturday across the Southeast are rolling out cancellation announcements as Isaias’s impending threat draws closer.

The Atlanta Pride festival — a notoriously rain-or-shine event and one of the city’s biggest events all year — has fully canceled Saturday’s celebration.

Seasonal fall celebrations from Athens, Tennessee’s annual Pumpkintown fall festival to Falkville, Alabama’s Fall Festival are canceled or rescheduled to dates later in October.

Cultural and food festivals are taking a hit too: the National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama; the Turkish Food Festival in Atlanta, Georgia; and Festa Italiana in Pensacola, Florida, to name a few.

Ticket refunds are being made for music event cancellations, like The Black Jacket Symphony show at Charleston Music Hall and the Jubilee Music Festival in Tallahassee.

Every hurricane brings the same side question, and Isaias is no different: What's Waffle House up to?

The Waffle House Index is an unofficial gauge FEMA has used informally, and former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate came up with it. The diner almost never closes, so when it does, something bigger is going on nearby.

(MORE: Yes, Waffle House has its own index for hurricanes) 

Soldiers with the Florida National Guard's 138th Transportation Company are performing maintenance checks on their vehicles to ensure they are ready for Hurricane Isaias response operations. In a social media post, the Guard says forces are being positioned throughout areas expected to be hit by the storm so crews can quickly reach the hardest-hit communities once it passes.

That’s nearly 10% of all Americans, and those flood alerts stretch hundreds of miles inland from where Isaias is expected to make landfall. What’s even more bizarre: Some of these areas that are expected to flood are currently in moderate to severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

A tornado watch has just been issued for most of the Florida Panhandle, extreme southwestern Georgia and extreme southeastern Alabama until 9 p.m. EDT. 

Tornadoes are common in landfalling hurricanes and tropical storms. We’re concerned about a north-south oriented band of rotating thunderstorms over the eastern Gulf that should push ashore in the Florida Panhandle in the next few hours. 

Take cover for any tornado warning as you would if Isaias wasn’t there. These tornado spawning supercells can move fast and you may not have as much time to seek shelter.

It’s a nightmare scenario that could be possible during Isaias — what should you do if you’re under a flood warning and a tornado warning at the same time? For the former, you’d want to flee to higher levels of your home, but for the latter, you’re supposed to go lower.

Senior digital meteorologist Jonathan Belles took on this exact conundrum, and his best advice is to do as you would do if there were only a tornado warning in effect — so get to the lowest level of your home that isn’t flooded or an interior room. And if flooding is present, shelter in the lowest unflooded level of your home, finding the innermost room on that level.

You can read more about that in this article.

The National Weather Service in Mobile, Alabama, noted a buoy about 12 miles south of Orange Beach, Alabama, is reporting sustained winds of around 40 mph. 

They estimate tropical-storm-force winds could arrive along the Alabama and western Florida Panhandle coasts by 2 p.m. CDT. 

That means it is getting increasingly unsafe to be outside along the Gulf Coast in the hurricane-warned areas.

Once we’re done with Isaias, there don’t appear to be any hurricane threats in the rest of the Atlantic Basin for at least the next week. 

In fact, looking at past hurricane seasons during super El Niños, we may not see another hurricane the rest of the season. If that happens, that could set another modern-era record for fewest hurricanes in any Atlantic season (one). 

Maybe “hurricane season” will have a double meaning this year?

(MORE: Record late first hurricane arrived)

Large waves pounded the pier in Pensacola Beach, Florida, as police announced mandatory evacuation orders.

Uber is working with the state of Florida to provide free rides to state-approved evacuation shelters ahead of Isaias’ landfall tonight.

If you already have the Uber app, you’ll need to enter the code ISAIAS26 before requesting a ride.  

You can also find a shelter near you at FloridaDisaster.org/Shelters

When you're preparing for strong winds, the patio chairs and grill are probably the first things you think about. But some of the biggest troublemakers are the things you barely notice.

Think about everyday items that can become flying debris when wind picks up, like:

• Trash and recycling bins
• Bird feeders, wind chimes and hanging baskets
• Doormats and porch decor
• Garden gear (solar lights, stakes, watering cans, sprinklers and hoses)
• Pool supplies
• Kids’ toys

A quick rule if you're short on time: If it's hollow, has a flat surface or sits on wheels, secure it or bring it inside.

Before the outage

Fill your car's gas tank, charge your phones and keep a landline phone handy if you have one — it often works when the power doesn't. Pack a cooler with ice to protect fridge and freezer items, and build an emergency kit with water, non-perishable food, flashlights (no candles — fire risk), a battery-powered radio and a 7-day supply of medications.

During the outage

Keep fridge and freezer doors closed — a full freezer stays cold for about 48 hours unopened. Unplug sensitive electronics to avoid surge damage when power returns, and avoid unnecessary driving since traffic lights will be out.

Using a generator

Plug appliances directly into the generator — never connect a portable generator to your home's electrical system. If buying one, consult an electrician to make sure it's rated for your power needs.

To speed up evacuations, Florida has waived fees on the following toll roads:

• Garcon Point Bridge in Santa Rosa County
• Mid-Bay Bridge in Okaloosa County
• Spence Parkway in Okaloosa County

Florida’s Department of Transportation also encouraged drivers to download the FL511 app to get alerts on any road and bridge closures and potential detours.

Meteorologists define landfall as that location and time when the center of a tropical storm or hurricane crosses the coast. The National Hurricane Center makes that determination. 

We expect Isaias to make its landfall late tonight somewhere along the Gulf Coast from the western Florida Panhandle to Alabama. 

The highest storm surge and peak winds typically happen near the coast within a few hours before or after the landfall, usually along and to the right of the center track. 

And, of course, impacts will occur far from the landfall location. Hurricanes and tropical storms almost never stop at the coast.

Water and sewer service in Pensacola Beach, Florida, will be shut down at 3 p.m. CDT today to protect the infrastructure from Isaias’ impacts.

The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority says they’ll shut off the systems once emergency personnel have evacuated the island.

Pensacola Beach is just one of the areas under mandatory evacuation orders in Escambia County.

Service will be restored once the hurricane passes and teams assess any damage.

Orange Beach Surf Rescue shared video showing the current conditions at Orange Beach, as Hurricane Isaias approaches:

• Gulf Temperature: 83 degrees
• Surf Conditions: Rough with waves at 8 to 10 feet and strong west running current
• Rip Current Forecast: High Risk
• A High Surf Warning is in effect until midnight Saturday
• Gulf waters are closed to the public, but the beach remains open

The Air Force Reserve’s 403rd Wing relocated its aircraft from Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, to Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. Moving the planes out of Hurricane Isaias' path protects them and keeps the wing's weather reconnaissance missions running without interruption, collecting data for the National Hurricane Center to improve storm track and intensity forecasts.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is urging people in the Panhandle to heed evacuation orders this morning, saying they don’t even need to go far to escape the worst of Isaias. 

To those who are staying, he’s telling them to expect to lose power for an extended period.

Gov. DeSantis gave an update on storm preparations and closures a short time ago in Escambia County. 

He said more than 6,000 utility workers are on standby to help restore power. More than 1,000 generators, 1.1 million bottles of water and more than 3 million ready-to-eat meals are also ready to be distributed.

While we always want to make sure we spell out the threats from a tropical system, it’s also important to make it clear when an area isn’t expected to see severe impacts. And for the Appalachians, a region that was devastated by flooding from Hurricane Helene in 2024, any approaching tropical threat can be concerning.

That’s why we want to be clear: Isaias is not another Helene. However, if you live in an area that is prone to flooding, you’ll want to monitor the forecast closely. But we do not expect anything near the level of catastrophe we saw in the region in 2024

As you can see in the map below, steadier soaking rain has now arrived in the Florida Panhandle and is pivoting into the Alabama Gulf Coast and will soon reach southern Mississippi. 

We’re also seeing some 30 to 35 mph gusts being reported along the coast from Apalachicola and Pensacola, Florida, to the Louisiana Gulf Coast. 

Any final preparations should be wrapped up as soon as possible. Conditions will only continue to deteriorate. 

The last mainland U.S. hurricane landfall was two years ago tonight, when Milton roared ashore in Florida on Oct. 9, 2024 as a Category 3 storm. 

It’s been six years since the last hurricane made landfall either in Alabama or the far western Florida Panhandle. The last one to do so was Category 2 Sally in September 2020. 

Conditions will continue to deteriorate throughout the day along the northern Gulf Coast, as rain and wind builds from major Hurricane Isaias. 

Expect conditions to continue to worsen as the day goes on, with peak winds making it to shore by 5 p.m. Hurricane-force winds are expected for several hours, as well as torrential rain. The center of Hurricane Isaias will most likely make landfall between 9 and 11 p.m. tonight. 

Of course, this can change by a few hours depending on how the hurricane wobbles before making landfall. However, the bottom line is that as conditions worsen, any preparations need to be completed quickly.

It’s official — with maximum sustained wind speeds of 120 mph, Isaias is now a Category 3 hurricane. Landfall is just hours away, and all preparations along the Gulf Coast should be rushed to completion. Scroll down a few entries for more on what a major hurricane is.

Vehicles were bumper-to-bumper on Interstate 10 in Baldwin County, Alabama, overnight as people tried to get out of Isaias’ path.

You can expect heavy traffic on highways throughout the Gulf Coast again today as more people make the decision to evacuate.

See more of the gridlock and how those who are staying are preparing for the worst.

Hurricane Isaias is benefiting from warm Gulf water temperatures and moist air, both favorable for intensification. Additionally, Isaias will pass over some of the warmest waters of the Gulf for several hours during the time of the day more favorable for development.

This has boosted Isaias to Category 3 status. That makes it a “major” hurricane, which is one with winds of 111 mph or higher. That corresponds to a Category 3, 4 or 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

To be clear: We are not expecting Isaias to make landfall as a major hurricane. Isaias will experience increasing wind shear as it moves farther north. Wind shear is hostile for both developing tropical systems and hurricanes.

From Pensacola Beach to Biloxi to Gulf Shores, people captured breathtaking images of last night’s sunset. 

The calm before a storm can be beautiful, with brilliant sunrises and sunsets sometimes appearing just before a hurricane arrives. 

As our Faiza Mohammed explains, Rayleigh scattering filters out more of the shorter blue wavelengths when the sun is near the horizon leaving vivid reds, oranges and pinks behind. High, thin clouds spreading outward from the hurricane can catch that light painting the sky before a storm moves in.

With strong winds expected from Hurricane Isaias on Saturday morning, officials have announced several changes to game-day tailgating operations.

No tailgating or outdoor activities will be allowed before noon Saturday and Friday setups on campus won't be allowed. 

Parking lots and shuttle services will be available until noon Saturday, with only uncovered tailgating permitted afterward. 

The National Hurricane Center warns that Isaias could be a high-end Category 2 hurricane as it makes landfall along the northern Gulf Coast tonight. This means areas near the center of where the storm pushes onshore could feel winds above 100 mph. Isaias is expected to weaken as it approaches the coast, however, the storm's wind field is expected to expand as it does so. This will cause more people to feel Isaias’ impacts. 

Isaias could produce tornadoes from late Friday night into early Saturday morning across the Florida Panhandle, the Big Bend, and neighboring parts of southern Alabama and southwestern Georgia. Even as the storm weakens, the risk will likely shift farther inland through Saturday night, reaching eastern Alabama and Georgia.

Nighttime tornadoes are especially dangerous. They're hard to see coming, and people who are asleep can easily miss a warning. Research shows they're more than twice as likely to be deadly as daytime tornadoes. Read our full breakdown of why.

Turn on emergency alerts on your phone, and keep a NOAA weather radio or another alert source that is loud enough to wake you. Make sure your family members have a plan too.

Hurricane Isaias is currently about 200 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi. The storm is currently moving north-northeast at 15 mph. Isaias is expected to become a Category 3 storm later this morning. On the latest forecast track, Isaias is expected to make landfall late tonight or early Saturday morning along the coast of Alabama or the Florida Panhandle.

Starting at 8 this morning, select Mobile County Public Schools will open as emergency shelters, according to the city of Mobile. Residents who need transportation to shelter have two options from Bel Air Mall parking lot by 9:30 a.m., and must follow guidance about service animals.

You can find more information and updates at cityofmobile.gov/hurricane-preparedness