Hurricane Isaias updates: Isaias downgraded to post-tropical cyclone

However, wind advisories remain across much of the region for sustained winds.

Conditions rapidly deteriorate as Hurricane Isaias prepares to make landfallUp to 9 feet of life-threatening storm surge is possible in parts of the Florida Panhandle, the NWS said.

Communities on the U.S. Gulf Coast are bracing as Hurricane Isaias made landfall Friday night as a Category 2 storm.

The storm, with winds up to 105 mph, made landfall near Destin, Florida, in the Florida Panhandle at 8:30 p.m. CT. As it continued its march north over the western part of the Panhandle, the storm weakened to a Category 1 and then to a post-tropical cyclone early Saturday.

Many low-lying and coastal areas, particularly on the Florida Panhandle, are under evacuation orders, 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 
Life-threatening storm surge impacting Gulf Coast as hurricane conditions spread inland

Flash and urban flooding remains likely across the hurricane zone
Flash and urban flooding will remain likely across the region, with considerable impacts possible across much of southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle into southwestern Georgia as well as for parts of southern Appalachia and the coastal Carolinas.

River flooding is also expected, some of which could be significant.

Severe storms are also a concern for these areas. A level 2 of 5 “slight risk” for severe weather is up from Tallahassee, Florida, to Columbia, South Carolina, for severe storms from Isaias’ outer bands. Damaging winds and tornadoes are possible with these storms later Saturday.

The heaviest rain will be over the coastal Carolinas and southern Appalachia later Saturday, with light rain beginning to spread into Indiana and West Virginia.

More rain is expected to move through the mid-Atlantic Sunday morning and through the Northeast later in the afternoon.

At 2 a.m. ET, the National Hurricane Center declared Isaias a post-tropical cyclone -- a system that no longer possesses characteristics of a tropical system.

More than a foot of rain has fallen so far in parts of Georgia and Florida from Isaias, including 12.97 inches in Bellwood, Alabama, 12.47 inches in DeFuniak Springs, Florida, 11.63 inches in Graceville, Florida, and 10.01 inches in Elba, Alabama.

As of the latest update from the National Hurricane Center, Isaias is over southern Alabama with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and is moving north at 14 mph.

Since Isaias has weakened to below tropical storm strength, all storm surge and tropical storm alerts have been discontinued. However, wind advisories remain up across much of the region for sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph possible through Sunday morning.

Over 800,000 without power across 3 states
At least 800,000 customers in Florida, Alabama and Georgia are currently without power Saturday morning as Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, in the Florida Panhandle on Friday night.

As of 3:39 a.m. ET on Saturday, at least 445,000 are without power in Florida, with an estimated 309,000 in Alabama and 50,000 in Georgia also without power in the hurricane zone.

Isaias moving over the Florida Panhandle as Category 1 storm
Hurricane Isaias continued its march north over the western Florida Panhandle on Friday night, although it weakened to a Category 1 storm, the National Weather Service said.

Maximum winds were at 90 mph and it was moving at 20 mph, the NWS said.

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 2 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.