Hurricane Isaias intensified winds and crashed waves along the Florida Panhandle and Alabama coastlines on Friday as the storm swirled just offshore, charging toward the U.S. Gulf Coast. The hurricane weakened slightly to a Category 2 before forecasters anticipated landfall near the Pensacola area in the western Florida Panhandle.
Forecasters warned of a significant storm surge, potentially reaching 6 to 9 feet, damaging winds, flooding, and the possibility of tornadoes. Wind gusts nearing hurricane strength began to lash the Gulf shoreline in the early evening, hours before Isaias was expected to make landfall in the low-lying coastal region known for its beaches and vacation homes.
In Mobile, Alabama, officials reported downed trees and power lines, and the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority issued a boil-water notice for its customers. More than 365,000 customers in Florida and Alabama were without power Friday evening, according to poweroutage.com.
A hurricane warning was in effect from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the western Florida Panhandle. Several counties issued mandatory evacuations, and Mobile, Alabama, imposed a curfew. Residents in Panama City, Florida, filled sandbags to protect their homes.
Many residents in coastal communities, such as Gulf Breeze, Florida, planned to stay and ride out the storm, taking precautions like installing hurricane shutters and securing outdoor items.
Isaias was expected to weaken to a tropical storm by Saturday afternoon after making landfall. However, heavy rain is forecast as it moves inland, with 4 to 8 inches of rainfall or more expected through the weekend from southern Alabama to southwestern Georgia. The storm is also expected to bring rain to the Southeast and potentially the Midwest and Northeast into Monday.
The storm grounded most flights at several Panhandle airports, including the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport. President Donald Trump canceled plans to attend a University of Georgia and University of Alabama football game in Tuscaloosa, citing a desire not to disrupt emergency response efforts.
While Isaias was not expected to directly impact major oil industry hubs along the Gulf Coast, industry experts warned that fuel prices could rise if power outages shut down refineries. On Dauphin Island, Alabama, Mayor Jeff Collier urged preparedness, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of hurricanes.
In the Pacific, Hurricane Simon became a Category 2 storm and was expected to strengthen before making landfall in Mexico, while Tropical Storm Rachel was also forecast to bring strong winds and rain to northern Mexico and Southern California over the weekend.