Tropical Storm Isaias Forecast to Become First Hurricane of Season, Threatening US Gulf Coast
Forecasters warn of potential hurricane strength before landfall between Louisiana and Florida.
Tropical Storm Isaias formed early Wednesday off the coast of Mexico and is projected to strengthen into the first hurricane of the Atlantic season before making landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast later in the week. As of Wednesday, Isaias was located approximately 285 miles west of Progreso, Mexico, and 580 miles southwest of the Mississippi River mouth.
The storm currently has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and is moving east-northeast at 8 mph. The National Hurricane Center in Miami has not yet specified a precise landfall location, but initial projections suggest the storm could come ashore anywhere between eastern Louisiana and the western Florida Panhandle.
Residents in these areas are being advised to prepare for the potential impacts of the storm. The hurricane center stated, "There is an increasing risk of dangerous wind and storm surge impacts along portions of the northern Gulf Coast." It urged individuals from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle to monitor forecast updates and ensure their hurricane preparedness plans are in place.
In addition to wind and surge concerns, Isaias is also expected to bring significant rainfall to portions of the Gulf Coast and much of the U.S. Southeast by Friday and into the weekend. The development of Isaias occurs during a period when the Atlantic hurricane season has been unusually quiet, attributed to a strong El Niño phenomenon that typically disrupts storm formation over the Atlantic, while activity in the Pacific remains above average.
