Hurricane Isaias intensified from a tropical storm into a category 1 hurricane on Wednesday night, carrying sustained winds of 80mph, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). In its Thursday morning advisory, the NWS said the storm is expected to pass north of the Yucatán peninsula later on Thursday before reaching the northern Gulf coast, and warned it is expected to strengthen into a strong hurricane as it approaches landfall.
A life-threatening storm surge is expected along a portion of the northern Gulf coast. Storm surge warnings are in effect from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Steinhatchee, Florida, and residents in the warning area have been urged to follow advice from local officials and evacuate if told to do so.
Hurricane warnings are in effect from Ocean Springs, Mississippi to the Bay/Gulf county line in Florida. The NWS said damaging hurricane-force winds are expected over portions of the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama and southern Mississippi, and warned residents to prepare for the possibility of long-duration power outages.
Heavy rainfall is expected across the central Gulf coast and much of the south-east from Friday into the weekend, with flash, urban and isolated river flooding possible. Isolated tornadoes are possible on Friday night in coastal areas of Alabama, the Florida Panhandle and far southwestern Georgia, with the threat continuing Saturday for eastern Alabama, Georgia and northern Florida.
Alabama governor Kay Ivey declared a state of emergency across 40 counties on Wednesday, saying the order "will allow us to take any needed steps ahead of landfall". The declaration remains in effect until 14 October. Florida governor Ron DeSantis also declared a state of emergency for 25 counties, saying the order "ensures communities have the time and resources necessary to prepare for potential severe weather impacts to the Panhandle and Big Bend region of Florida".