Tens of thousands ordered to evacuate as Isaias approaches Florida
Tens of thousands evacuate Gulf Coast areas as Hurricane Isaias approaches Florida landfall.
Event / Disaster
Hurricane Isaias October 2026
Hurricane Isaias intensifies and threatens the Gulf Coast with ongoing coverage and impacts.
11 reported locations
Daily activity
12 articles0 articles
2026-10-10 to 2026-10-29 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 10 Oct, 12:37 UTC
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What happened
Fall for Greenville festival delayed due to Hurricane Isaias
The Fall for Greenville festival, the city's largest annual event bringing tens of thousands of people to Main Street for food and music, delayed its start on October 10 from its original time until 4 p.m., canceling the first five hours of planned activities. City organizers noted the festival is a 'rain or shine event, but not a severe weather event,' and expressed concern about forecast winds of 20 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.
Hurricane-force winds forecast to reach 100 miles inland
After landfall, hurricane-force winds were forecast to reach up to 100 miles inland across southern Alabama from Hurricane Isaias. A High Wind Watch was put in effect for northern Alabama and southeastern Tennessee where gusts could reach 50 mph. Along the Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee, upslope winds could exceed 80 mph.
Hurricane Isaias makes landfall near Destin, Florida as Category 2 hurricane
Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, around 9:30 p.m. ET on October 9, 2026, with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph and an estimated minimum central pressure of 971 mb. The storm had previously peaked as a Category 3 hurricane before weakening slightly before landfall. Isaias was the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season and set a record as one of the two latest-forming Atlantic hurricanes on record, tying a record set on October 8, 1905.
Multiple Waffle House locations closed in Florida Panhandle due to hurricane
Dozens of Waffle House locations in the Florida Panhandle closed ahead of Hurricane Isaias, marking significant concern given the restaurant chain's reputation for remaining open through severe weather and serving as an informal measuring stick of storm severity.
Oil and gas producers shut down significant Gulf of Mexico production
Ahead of Hurricane Isaias, oil and gas producers shut down a significant share of offshore production in the Gulf of Mexico, which accounts for almost 15% of crude pumped annually in the United States.
Alabama Governor and Mississippi Governor declare states of emergency
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey and Mississippi Governor declared states of emergency ahead of Hurricane Isaias's arrival, urging coastal residents to evacuate. Alabama Governor Ivey announced that President Donald Trump had approved the emergency declaration for Alabama before the hurricane made landfall.
Over 500,000 power outages reported across Alabama and Florida
By Friday evening following Hurricane Isaias's landfall, nearly 500,000 customers had lost power across Alabama and Florida. As of 4:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, 442,000 customers in Florida were without power, along with 311,000 in Alabama and 63,000 in Georgia, according to PowerOutage.com tracking.
Heavy rainfall and flooding expected across southeastern United States
The National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area office forecast heavy downpours creating a low threat of localized flooding through Saturday. The National Hurricane Center forecast two to five inches of rain across much of the Southeastern United States with up to ten inches possible in some areas. The coastal Carolinas and southern Appalachians were identified as particularly vulnerable. A Level 2 out of 4 flash flood risk extended from Florida's Big Bend through the Carolinas and into the Tennessee Valley.
Florida Governor declares state of emergency across 27 counties
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency across 27 Florida counties ahead of Hurricane Isaias's arrival. Over 16,000 linemen and restoration personnel were placed on standby to help restore power. Nearly 400 soldiers from the Florida State Guard were deployed, and four amphibious rescue teams from Florida's Crisis Response Battalion were made available for operations. Florida's National Guard deployed approximately 5,000 soldiers and airmen to aid with response efforts.
Tornadoes possible in outer rain bands of Hurricane Isaias
The FOX Forecast Center warned that tornadoes could continue into Saturday across eastern Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, Georgia and the Carolinas, particularly within Isaias's outer rain bands.
Life-threatening storm surge and destructive winds impact Gulf Coast
Hurricane Isaias brought life-threatening storm surge affecting coastal areas from Dauphin Island in Alabama to Suwannee in Florida. Storm surge warnings remained in effect with up to 7 feet of surge possible along the Alabama-Florida line. A wind gust of 102 mph was recorded at Pensacola city hall. At Panama City Beach, Noaa officials observed water levels 5.4 feet above average. The storm caused widespread damage including roofs torn from buildings and structures.
Read the coverage
2 alternative perspectives
News cycle shifts as unrelated events dominate national agenda
Multiple unrelated national and international events occurred as Hurricane Isaias continued affecting the Southeast.
ICE agent shoots wanted migrant during hurricane enforcement operation
ICE agent shoots wanted migrant in Bronx during hurricane operations.
Isaias strengthens to Category 3, intensifying Gulf Coast threat
Hurricane Isaias strengthened to Category 3, escalating destruction and flooding threats across the Gulf Coast.
Atlantic hurricane season expands with Simon and Rachel developing simultaneously
Category 4 Hurricane Simon and Tropical Storm Rachel threaten Mexico and southwestern U.S. regions concurrently.
Trump cancels Georgia-Alabama football game attendance amid hurricane disruptions
President Trump cancels Georgia-Alabama football game attendance due to Hurricane Isaias impacts.
Isaias weakens inland, leaving power outages and flooding in wake
Weakened Isaias causes 726,000+ power outages and widespread flooding across Southeast states.
Hurricane Isaias forces festival postponement and business closures
Festival postponed and restaurants closed as Hurricane Isaias disrupts community activities and local businesses.
Gulf of Mexico oil and gas operations halt amid hurricane conditions
Gulf of Mexico oil and gas producers halt major operations due to Hurricane Isaias.
Three states declare emergencies as Hurricane Isaias advances inland
Three state governors declared emergencies as Hurricane Isaias impacts Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi.
Half-million lose power as flooding spreads across Southeast
Half a million lose power in Alabama and Florida as flooding threatens the Southeast.
Category 2 Hurricane Isaias threatens infrastructure across Gulf Coast region
Category 2 Hurricane Isaias threatens infrastructure 100 miles inland with destructive winds and storm surge.