Hurricane Isaias Strengthens to 80 MPH, Forecast to Reach 110 MPH Before Gulf Landfall Late Friday

Hurricane Isaias strengthened to 80 mph on Thursday morning as it moved across the Gulf of Mexico toward the northern Gulf Coast, where forecasters expect it to approach landfall late Friday or early Saturday as a much stronger storm, according to coverage by the Mississippi Clarion Ledger and EarthSky summarizing National Hurricane Center advisories.

As of the 7 a.m. Central update cited by the Clarion Ledger, Isaias was about 385 miles south-southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River and moving east-northeast at about 9 mph. EarthSky reported that the National Hurricane Center expects continued strengthening, with sustained winds forecast to reach about 110 mph as the storm nears the coast on Friday, just below the threshold for a major hurricane, before wind shear begins to weaken it near landfall.

Warnings cover Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle

A Hurricane Warning is in effect from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Bay/Gulf County line in Florida, according to the Clarion Ledger. A Storm Surge Warning runs from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Steinhatchee River in Florida, with Tropical Storm Warnings extending on both sides of the hurricane warning area and a Storm Surge Watch farther east toward Yankeetown.

The largest surge is forecast from Ocean Springs to Indian Pass, Florida, and in Mobile Bay, where water could rise 5 to 7 feet above ground if the peak occurs at high tide, according to the Clarion Ledger. Forecasters put possible surge at 3 to 5 feet from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs, 4 to 6 feet from Indian Pass to the Steinhatchee River, and 1 to 3 feet in Lake Pontchartrain.

Rain, flooding and tornadoes expected from Friday

The Clarion Ledger reported that coastal areas could begin feeling rain, thunderstorms and stronger winds around midday Friday. Rainfall is expected to total 3 to 7 inches in parts of the coastal region, with isolated amounts up to 10 inches, raising concerns about flash, urban and river flooding. Moisture spreading inland could bring 1 to 3 inches as far north as the Carolinas, with locally higher totals.

Coastal Alabama and the Florida Panhandle also face a tornado risk on Friday night, a threat forecasters expect to expand into eastern Alabama, western Georgia and northern Florida on Saturday, according to the Clarion Ledger. EarthSky noted that Isaias is the Atlantic season’s first hurricane in 2026 after an unusually long wait, and that dangerous hurricane-force winds are expected especially near the eventual landfall point between coastal Mississippi and the Florida Panhandle.

Reporting based on coverage by the Mississippi Clarion Ledger and EarthSky.