Hurricane Isaias Leaves Hundreds of Thousands Without Power Along Gulf Coast
The storm made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane, bringing downed trees, flooded roads, and widespread power outages to Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.
Hurricane Isaias slammed into the U.S. Gulf Coast on Friday, leaving more than 726,000 customers in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle without power early Saturday. The storm made landfall near Destin, Florida, as a Category 2 hurricane before moving inland and rapidly weakening.
Life-threatening storm surges, heavy rain, and potential flooding were concerns for the Southeast throughout the weekend. Forecasters also warned of possible tornadoes across parts of the Florida Panhandle, Georgia, and the Carolinas. The storm brought hurricane-force winds to the low-lying coastal areas known for their beaches and vacation homes.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis urged residents to stay indoors during the storm. In Destin, roads were flooded, and Pensacola police advised against travel due to debris. Social media showed images of downed trees and power lines, with one video capturing a roof being torn from a Pensacola inn. Some Panhandle counties temporarily halted emergency response operations due to dangerous conditions.
Similar conditions were reported in southern Alabama, with downed trees and power lines causing road closures in Mobile and Houston County. Tim Mowry, a Pensacola resident, described the wind sounding like a train whistle. While his home lost power, he had a generator and noted that his area was fortunate to avoid the worst-case scenarios. However, his son encountered blocked roads when attempting to reach him.
Isaias, the first hurricane of the Atlantic season to hit the eastern U.S. since Hurricane Milton in 2024, is expected to bring substantial rainfall totaling 4 to 8 inches, or more, from southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle into southwest Georgia. The storm is also forecast to move inland, bringing rain and potential flooding to the Midwest and Northeast into Monday.
Flights were grounded at several Panhandle airports, including Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport. President Donald Trump canceled his plans to attend the University of Georgia vs. University of Alabama football game in Tuscaloosa, citing a desire not to disrupt emergency response efforts.
Meanwhile, in the Pacific, Hurricane Simon strengthened to Category 4 as it approached Mexico's coast, and Tropical Storm Rachel was expected to bring strong winds and rain to northern Mexico and Southern California.