The National Hurricane Center said Isaias had 100 mph winds Thursday evening and was expected to reach the northern Gulf Coast late Friday or early Saturday, after operators shut in most Gulf oil output.
Hurricane Isaias was a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds near 100 mph, or 155 km/h, at 7 p.m. CDT on Thursday, the National Hurricane Center said in intermediate advisory 9A. The center was near 24.9 north, 88.8 west, about 290 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River, moving northeast at 13 mph.
The advisory said additional strengthening was expected through early Friday and that Isaias should remain a dangerous hurricane as it approaches the northern Gulf Coast Friday night. Landfall was expected within the warning area late Friday or early Saturday. A storm-surge warning ran from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Suwannee River, and a hurricane warning ran from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Bay and Gulf county line in Florida.
Reuters reported earlier Thursday that the Marine Minerals Administration said personnel had been evacuated from 121 production platforms and five non-dynamically positioned rigs. Operators had shut in about 63 percent of Gulf oil production, or 1.3 million barrels a day, and about 57 percent of the region's natural gas output. On Wednesday those figures were 25 percent of oil and 16 percent of gas.
Florida ordered mandatory evacuations from noon Thursday for coastal parts of Okaloosa County. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey declared an emergency covering 40 counties. NHC director Michael Brennan said in a morning briefing that Thursday was the day to prepare.
The 100 mph reading is the 7 p.m. CDT observation, not the landfall intensity. Forecasters still expected shear to limit the storm somewhat before it reaches the coast.
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- Michael Brennan said Isaias was expected to be a dangerous hurricane at landfall and that Thursday was the day to prepare.