Hurricane Isaias Strikes: Florida Panhandle Braces for Impact
Live
The Gulf Coast is bracing for dangerous conditions, extreme wind and flooding.
Communities on the U.S. Gulf Coast are bracing as Hurricane Isaias, now a strong Category 2 hurricane, made landfall Friday night.
The storm, with winds up to 105 mph, made landfall near Destin, Florida, in the Florida Panhandle at 8:30 p.m. CT.
A hurricane warning is currently in effect from just east of Biloxi, Mississippi, through Mobile and Pensacola to Panama City and Mexico Beach, Florida.
Many low-lying and coastal areas, particularly on the Florida Panhandle, are under evacuation orders, with communities preparing for strong winds that could near 120 mph in some locations, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a press conference Friday morning.
Storm surge warnings are also in place along the coast, with surges forecast to reach up to 9 feet from the Santa Rosa/Okaloosa County Line, Florida, to Grayton Beach, Florida.
Key Headlines
2 hours and 45 minutes ago
3 hours and 39 minutes ago
11:08 AM EDT
6:26 PM EDT
6:13 PM EDT
Here's how the news is developing.
23 minutes ago
Florida Gov. DeSantis provides update after landfall
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis provided an update on Hurricane Isaias after the storm made landfall in the state Friday night.
DeSantis said wind shear weakened the storm from a Category 3 to a Category before landfall, although strong winds and heavy rainfall remained significant threats.
Florida Department of Transportation crews and search-and-rescue teams were scheduled to begin mobilizing around 3 a.m. Saturday.
Transportation crews planned to clear debris from roadways and inspect bridges, while emergency responders, including the Florida National Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, prepared to assist with rescue operations where needed.
There were approximately 260,000 electric utility accounts without power across the region, he said. Utility crews were prepared to begin restoration work as soon as conditions became safe.
The governor said he would provide another update on Saturday morning.
-ABC News' Jason Volack
40 minutes ago
Life-threatening storm surge impacting Gulf Coast as hurricane conditions spread inland
Life-threatening storm surge is hitting the Gulf Coast as dangerous hurricane conditions and flash flooding begin to spread inland, the National Weather Service said.
Radar and surface observations indicated that the maximum sustained winds are now 100 mph, NWS said.
1 hour and 13 minutes ago
Hurricane Isaias makes landfall
Hurricane Isaias, a strong Category 2 hurricane, made landfall Friday night.
The storm, with winds up to 105 mph, made landfall near Destin, Florida, in the Florida Panhandle at 8:30 p.m. CT, the National Weather Service said.
1 hour and 32 minutes ago
Water levels rising along the coast as landfall nears
Water levels were rising rapidly along the coast as dangerous hurricane conditions and life-threatening flash flooding spread inland.
A car rides through a scenic road as the strong winds of Hurricane Isaias hit Pensacola, Florida, on October 9, 2026. Hurricane Isaias' outer bands were lashing the US Gulf Coast with heavy rain and strong winds Friday, with the category 3 storm triggering mandatory evacuations and poised to bring life-threatening storm surge when it makes landfall.
Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images
Extreme wind warnings and a flash flood emergency continue as landfall is soon expected near the Fort Walton Beach and Destin area of Florida.
A wind gust of 102 mph with sustained wind of 62 mph was recently reported at Pensacola City Hall.
