Hurricane Isaias is expected to make landfall along Florida’s western Panhandle on Friday night, October 9, as the Category 3 storm brings dangerous winds, heavy rain and the threat of life-threatening flooding. Forecasts place the likely landfall window between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET, with the area near Pensacola among the locations being watched closely.
The storm also threatened to bring a life-threatening storm surge of 5 to 9 feet in some coastal locations, along with heavy rainfall and possible flooding. The National Weather Service issued an Extreme Wind Warning for parts of the Florida Panhandle. Officials urged residents to take shelter immediately, warning that hurricane-force winds were imminent in affected areas. Tornadoes were another concern as Isaias moved inland.
Residents were advised to stay inside a secure shelter, keep away from windows and monitor official weather alerts. The NHC continued issuing updates as Isaias approached the coast, with the storm expected to weaken after landfall but still bring dangerous weather inland.
