Hurricane Isaias struck the US Gulf Coast on Friday as a dangerous Category 2 storm, bringing powerful winds, heavy rainfall, flooding and life-threatening storm surges to parts of Alabama and Florida’s Panhandle. The first hurricane of the Atlantic season made landfall near Destin, Florida, according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center. The storm carried maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (169 kph). Although Isaias weakened shortly before landfall, it continued to threaten communities with severe weather. By early Saturday, its winds had weakened enough for forecasters to stop classifying it as a hurricane. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis urged residents to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary travel as the storm moved across the region. “The storm is here. Buckle down at this point. Don’t be getting out on the roads,” DeSantis said at a news conference. He also warned that flash flooding would remain a major threat “throughout the region.” Hurricane-force winds battered low-lying coastal communities along the Gulf shoreline. The area is popular with tourists for its white-sand beaches, holiday homes, waterfront bars and seafood restaurants. Forecasters also warned that the storm could produce tornadoes across Florida’s Panhandle and into southern Georgia. US President Donald Trump addressed the hurricane as he returned to the White House late Friday after attending a rally in upstate New York. “We’re watching it very closely, the hurricane,” Trump told reporters, adding that it was “under control.”

Hurricane Isaias Causes Flooding and Power Outages in Florida and Alabama

The storm flooded roads in Destin, while police in nearby Pensacola urged residents to stay off the streets because fallen debris had made several routes dangerous. Authorities had not immediately established the full extent of the damage. However, residents shared photographs and videos online showing uprooted trees, fallen power lines and damage to buildings. One video circulating on social media appeared to show strong winds tearing the roof off an inn in Pensacola. Several counties in Florida’s Panhandle temporarily suspended emergency response operations on Friday night because conditions had become too dangerous for crews to work safely. Southern Alabama also experienced flooding and wind damage. Officials in Mobile reported fallen trees and power lines, while authorities closed roads in Houston County, in the southeastern part of the state, because of similar conditions. The storm also triggered widespread electricity disruptions. According to poweroutage.com, more than 664,000 customers across Florida and Alabama had lost electricity by early Saturday.

Residents Face Dangerous Conditions as Hurricane Makes Landfall

Despite the warnings, many residents decided to remain at home and ride out the storm. Tim Mowry, who stayed at his home in Pensacola, described the powerful winds as sounding like a train whistle as they rushed through a gap in his patio door. He lost electricity at around 4:30 p.m. but continued to receive power from a generator. Floodwater covered parts of his backyard, and the strong winds tore down sections of his fence. However, Mowry said the damage was less severe than he had anticipated. “As far as Pensacola-wise, we really got fortunate,” Mowry said. He added that his son, who lives about 15 minutes away, tried to drive to his house after losing power. However, fallen trees and power lines blocked the roads, forcing him to turn back. Meanwhile, forecasters continued to warn residents about the risk of storm surges along the coast. The National Hurricane Center predicted that water levels could rise by 3 to 5 feet (0.91 to 1.52 metres) between Dauphin Island in Alabama and Florida’s Aucilla River. The centre warned that dangerous conditions could persist across western Florida’s Panhandle, southern Alabama and southern Mississippi. Several counties ordered mandatory evacuations, while officials in Mobile imposed a curfew that remained in effect through Saturday morning. The severity of the warnings also prompted dozens of Waffle House restaurants across Florida’s Panhandle to close, according to the company’s website. The Southern breakfast chain is known for keeping many of its outlets open during extreme weather, making its closures a widely recognised indicator of a storm’s potential impact.

Heavy Rainfall and Flooding Expected Across the Southeast

Kelsei Frazier, a Florida native who lives in Pace and has experienced hurricanes before, said the closure of nearby Waffle House restaurants highlighted the seriousness of the situation. “We joke because if Waffle House is still open, then you know it’s not a bad hurricane, but all the Waffle Houses that I know of within at least a normal range from us are closed,” Frazier said. Governor DeSantis also warned residents to prepare for possible fuel shortages and the closure of bridges and highways as the storm disrupted transport and supply networks. To support emergency operations, Florida deployed approximately 5,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen. Search-and-rescue teams remained prepared to respond to emergencies, while officials evacuated inmates from some prisons as a precaution. Although Isaias had begun losing strength after making landfall, forecasters expected it to weaken further and become a tropical storm by Saturday afternoon. However, the weakening system was still expected to bring substantial rainfall as it moved inland. The National Hurricane Center forecast 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimetres) of rain, with potentially higher totals, across areas stretching from southern Alabama to southwestern Georgia through the weekend. The storm was also expected to spread heavy rain and possible flooding across much of the southeastern United States. As it continued moving inland, its effects could reach parts of the Midwest and Northeast by Monday. Isaias was the first hurricane to strike the eastern United States since Hurricane Milton battered Florida’s Gulf Coast in 2024.

Hurricane Isaias Disrupts Flights and Forces Trump to Cancel Plans

The storm disrupted air travel across Florida’s Panhandle, grounding most Friday flights at several airports. Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport suspended all incoming and outgoing flights. Trump also cancelled plans to attend Saturday’s football game between the University of Georgia and the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. He said he did not want his visit to interfere with emergency response operations. The hurricane was expected to avoid the Gulf Coast’s largest oil industry hubs. Nevertheless, industry experts warned that fuel prices could rise if widespread power outages forced refineries to suspend operations. Refineries depend on electricity to process crude oil into fuels and other petroleum products. Any prolonged disruption could therefore affect fuel supplies and prices, even if the storm avoids the region’s main oil infrastructure.

Hurricane Simon Strengthens in the Pacific as Tropical Storm Rachel Approaches

Meanwhile, severe weather was also developing in the Pacific. Hurricane Simon strengthened into a Category 4 storm early Saturday ahead of an expected landfall in Mexico later in the weekend. Tropical Storm Rachel was also forecast to bring strong winds and heavy rainfall to northern Mexico and Southern California over the weekend. As multiple storms threatened different parts of North America, emergency officials continued monitoring weather conditions and preparing for possible flooding, infrastructure damage and further travel disruptions.