Tropical Storm Isaias forecast to make landfall as hurricane Friday
Tropical Storm Isaias is forecast to intensify into a hurricane before making landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast this Friday. States of emergency have been declared in Florida and Alabama as officials prepare for potential storm surges and high winds.
Why it matters
The storm poses a significant threat to life and property in the Gulf region, necessitating urgent public safety measures and emergency management.
The Gulf Coast is under high alert as Tropical Storm Isaias makes its way north and is expected to rapidly intensify into a hurricane Thursday morning before making landfall in the Florida panhandle on Friday night.
The National Hurricane Center issued hurricane watches and storm surge watches Wednesday morning for parts of the north central Gulf Coast.
The storm was about 225 miles west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, on Wednesday afternoon and slowly moving north. It may become the first Atlantic hurricane of the season, the latest first hurricane on record, on Thursday.
Isaias satellite. ABC News The hurricane watch is in effect for coastal Mississippi, coastal Alabama, and the western Florida panhandle. Winds could gust 80 to 100 mph for this region.
Florida issued a state of emergency order Tuesday evening for 25 counties and on Wednesday, Alabama issued one for 40 counties.
Also covering this story
4 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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