Hurricane Isaias, with 110 mph winds, was about 45 miles southeast of Pensacola as of 7 PM CDT Friday and expected to make landfall within hours along the Florida Panhandle.
Hurricane Isaias was approaching landfall along the western Florida Panhandle late Friday evening with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph. The National Hurricane Center reported the center near 30.1N 86.6W, about 45 miles southeast of Pensacola, moving north at 18 mph.
Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 35 miles from the center, with tropical-storm-force winds reaching 205 miles. A WeatherFlow station in Gulf Breeze recorded sustained winds of 83 mph and a gust of 97 mph.
Warnings covered areas from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Suwannee River for hurricane conditions. Officials had urged preparations and evacuations earlier in the day as the storm strengthened.
After landfall, weakening is expected as the system moves inland across Alabama into the Tennessee Valley. Life-threatening storm surge, heavy rainfall and possible tornadoes remain threats.
The storm was forecast to become post-tropical on Saturday. No further immediate intensity increases were indicated in the evening advisory.
People Sentiments Negative
- Residents along the Gulf Coast boarded homes and filled sandbags earlier in the day.
- National Hurricane Center warned of extreme wind gusts spreading across the warning area.
- Local reports noted preparations for potential flooding and power outages.