Hurricane Isaias is expected to continue to intensify before making landfall late Friday or early Saturday. See latest update from Hurricane Center.

Article last updated: Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, 2 a.m. ET

The Panhandle could see up to 7 feet of storm surge.

Isaias has strengthened into the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season, and evacuation guidance has been issued in Alabama and Florida before its expected landfall on Friday night. Isaias is expected to lash the central Gulf Coast and parts of the Southeast with heavy rain and destructive winds,

Franklin County, Florida, which was under a tropical storm warning when this story was published, issued a mandatory evacuation for coastal homes and RVs in Alligator Point, Bald Point, St. George Island and Dog Island, which are in the path of the storm, according to television station WCTV.

Hurricane Isaias reached Category 2 strength Thursday evening and is forecast to continue intensifying as it approaches the Florida Panhandle.

The National Hurricane Center initiated advisories -- and the all-important track maps -- on Tropical Depression Nine on Tuesday afternoon. Forecasters said the depression could become Tropical Storm Isaias (pronounced ees-ah-EE-ahs) by Wednesday and then the first hurricane of 2026 on Thursday as it tracks northward toward the Gulf Coast.

Category 1 Hurricane Rachel will make a turn toward the Southwest, sharing its moisture with the region as it fades. Rain expected late Oct. 10-13.