Hurricane Isaias Makes Landfall in Florida Panhandle
Category 2 storm brings 105 mph winds, storm surge, and heavy rainfall to the Gulf Coast.
Hurricane Isaias made landfall along the western Florida Panhandle near Destin late Friday evening as a Category 2 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph.
The National Hurricane Center confirmed the storm's center crossed the coast around 8:30 p.m. CDT. Hurricane-force winds and life-threatening storm surge impacted coastal communities from southern Alabama into the Florida Panhandle.
A storm surge warning was in effect for the area stretching from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Suwannee River in Florida. A hurricane warning was also issued from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Bay/Gulf County Line in Florida. Residents under these warnings experienced rapidly deteriorating conditions as the storm moved northward at approximately 18 mph.
Forecasters had warned of 6 to 9 feet of inundation along portions of the coast east of the landfall point. Damaging winds were expected to extend well inland into southern Alabama. Additionally, heavy rainfall of 4 to 8 inches, with isolated totals reaching up to 15 inches, increased the risk of flash flooding across the region throughout the weekend as Isaias was projected to weaken and track toward the Tennessee Valley.