2026 Atlantic season marks longest delay before first hurricane forms
2026 Atlantic season records longest delay before first hurricane forms since 1950.
Event / Disaster
2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season
Coverage of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, including Hurricane Isaias and other storms, their impacts on the US Gulf Coast, energy markets, and weather patterns.
10 reported locations
Daily activity
18 articles0 articles
2026-09-13 to 2026-10-30 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 13 Sept, 00:30 UTC
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What happened
College football game between Georgia and Alabama at risk from Hurricane Isaias
Hurricane Isaias may disrupt Saturday's college football showdown between rivals Georgia and Alabama, a game that President Donald Trump planned to attend.
Mandatory evacuations and school closures ordered in Florida and Alabama
Okaloosa County in Florida announced mandatory evacuations for some coastal areas, and at least four Florida school districts canceled classes for later in the week. The cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in Alabama issued statements encouraging people in low-lying areas to voluntarily evacuate. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey issued a state of emergency for 40 counties, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared one for 25 counties in the Panhandle and Big Bend regions.
Isaias forms late in Atlantic hurricane season, near historical record
Isaias developed more than four months into the Atlantic hurricane season and was short by one day of tying a 121-year-old record for the area's latest-forming hurricane. According to the National Weather Service, the record dates to 1905, when the year's first Atlantic hurricane formed on October 8. The Atlantic hurricane season has been unusually quiet this year because of a strong El Niño, which disrupts storm formation.
Storm surge and rainfall expected to reach dangerous levels across Gulf Coast
Water from storm surge and high tide could reach heights of 5 to 7 feet in parts of Alabama and Mississippi. Isaias could dump up to 10 inches of rain along parts of the Gulf Coast and spawn tornadoes Friday night into Saturday from Alabama to the Florida Panhandle to southwestern Georgia. Heavy rain with flooding risk was possible into the weekend as far inland as the Tennessee Valley.
Hurricane Isaias approaches Gulf Coast as first hurricane of Atlantic season
Hurricane Isaias surged toward the U.S. Gulf Coast on Thursday as the first hurricane of the Atlantic season. The hurricane had maximum sustained winds around 75-80 mph and was moving east-northeast at 9 mph, centered approximately 420-445 miles south-southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River. The storm was forecast to intensify rapidly and make landfall on the northern Gulf Coast late Friday or early Saturday, bringing strong winds and life-threatening storm surge.
Gulf oil production halted ahead of Hurricane Isaias
Oil and gas producers shut down a significant share of offshore production in the Gulf ahead of the hurricane. As of Wednesday, about 25% of oil production in the region was temporarily halted, taking approximately 511,000 barrels a day off the market according to the Marine Minerals Administration. Eight of the Gulf's 371 manned oil platforms were evacuated. The Gulf accounts for almost 15% of crude pumped annually in the U.S.
Tropical Storm Simon forms in Pacific Ocean off Mexico
Tropical Storm Simon formed Wednesday off Mexico in the Pacific Ocean. Storm activity has been above average in the Pacific during this Atlantic hurricane season.
National Weather Service warns of extended power outages from Hurricane Isaias
The National Weather Service told communities from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to Gulf County, Florida, to prepare for the possibility of long-duration power outages. In Pensacola, electric utilities were pre-positioning crews to quickly repair any power outages that result from the hurricane.
South Florida Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 2 deploys to Tallahassee
South Florida Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 2, consisting of 80 personnel from 26 different agencies across South Florida, began preparations at 4 a.m. Thursday morning to assist in the panhandle. The Type 1 task force includes 70 workers and 10 drivers, equipped with heavy equipment, K-9 units, and swift water rescue capabilities. The team planned to arrive in Tallahassee by Thursday afternoon.
Georgia-Alabama college football game remains scheduled despite Hurricane Isaias
The SEC confirmed that the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs versus No. 6 Alabama Crimson Tide game scheduled for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET in Tuscaloosa, Alabama is planned to proceed as scheduled. Hurricane Isaias is projected to move through Tuscaloosa on Saturday morning, with weather forecasts predicting the hurricane will be past the city by game time. Winds are expected to drop to around 10 mph with a 40 percent chance of rain by evening kickoff.
Hurricane Isaias approaches Florida and Alabama Gulf Coast
Hurricane Isaias is heading for a Gulf Coast landfall Friday night with projected storm surge, rainfall flooding, and high winds. The storm is gaining strength and will spread heavy rain inland over the East this weekend.
Alabama issues evacuation orders for southern areas ahead of Hurricane Isaias
Evacuation orders were issued for some southern areas of Alabama as Hurricane Isaias progresses through the Gulf Coast region this week.
ESPN College GameDay moves indoors due to hurricane conditions
ESPN's College GameDay, which typically broadcasts outdoors on the host campus, relocated to inside Coleman Coliseum on Alabama's campus due to hurricane conditions expected to move through Tuscaloosa on Saturday morning. The show is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. CT with doors opening at 5:30 a.m. CT.
Florida Task Force 1 and Miami-Dade first responders deploy north for hurricane relief
Around 88 members of Florida Task Force 1, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, and Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office personnel began deploying from Homestead early Thursday morning heading to Tallahassee. The teams packed equipment and essentials prepared for at least 14 days of deployment. They specialize in 19 areas including flooding and high water rescues, with multiple K-9 teams for search and rescue operations.
Tropical Storm Isaias forms in Gulf of Mexico
Tropical Storm Isaias formed early Wednesday, October 7, 2026, in the Gulf of Mexico. It was located approximately 580 miles southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, moving east-northeast at 8 mph. It is the ninth named tropical storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.
Hurricane Isaias would be first landfalling Atlantic hurricane of 2026 season
Tropical Storm Isaias is forecast to become the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. If it makes landfall as a hurricane, it would be notable as the ninth named tropical storm of the season but the first to strengthen into a landfalling hurricane. Typical Atlantic hurricane seasons feature seven hurricanes.
September 2026 ended without a hurricane for first time in 32 years
September 2026 concluded without producing a hurricane for the first time in 32 years, despite being the climatological peak of the Atlantic hurricane season. Tropical Storm Isaias could end this streak as the first hurricane of the season if it strengthens as forecast.
Wind gusts of 40-60 mph forecast along Gulf Coast from Isaias
Along the Gulf Coast near where Tropical Storm Isaias is forecast to make landfall, widespread wind gusts of 40-60 mph are expected. The combination of heavy rain and strong winds can lead to power outages, property damage, widespread flooding and mudslides, particularly in higher elevations of the Appalachians.
Apalachicola, Florida records October rainfall record ahead of Isaias
Apalachicola, Florida in the Panhandle received 11.84 inches of rain this week, including 7.49 inches on October 5, tying the one-day rainfall record for October. This rainfall occurred before Tropical Storm Isaias approached, creating concern about additional heavy rain from the incoming storm.
Gulf water temperatures at warmest levels on record
Gulf of Mexico water temperatures are currently at their warmest levels on record dating back to 1982. While temperatures have dropped nearly 2 degrees since mid-September, the waters remain warmer than normal and are conducive to fueling tropical storm development. Warm water temperatures are contributing to the rapid intensification forecast for Tropical Storm Isaias.
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2 alternative perspectives
Tropical Storm Odalys expected to intensify into hurricane
Tropical Storm Odalys forecast to intensify into hurricane amid suppressed Atlantic season.
Hurricane Polo intensifies to Category 5 off Mexico's southwestern coast
Category 5 Hurricane Polo threatens Mexico with offshore track and life-threatening coastal impacts.
Oceans hit record heat milestone amid hurricane season shifts
Record ocean heat for 100 consecutive days reshapes hurricane patterns across Atlantic and Pacific basins.
Eastern Pacific hurricane surge batters Hawaii with power outages and destruction
Eastern Pacific hurricanes fueled by El Niño battered Hawaii with outages and home destruction.
Natural factors suppress Atlantic hurricane activity to post-1950 lows
Record wind shear and El Niño conditions have suppressed 2026 Atlantic hurricane activity to historic lows.