What to Know
- The first hurricane of the Atlantic season is expected to make landfall near the Alabama-Florida state line Friday night.
- It threatens to bring strong winds, heavy rains and potentially life-threatening storm surges to the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama and southern Mississippi.
- The state has activated 175 members of the Florida State Guard and around 5,000 members of the Florida National Guard. About 6,000 utility workers are also being stationed in the region.
- The Atlantic hurricane season has been unusually quiet this year because of a strong El Niño.
Hurricane Isaias, the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, is expected to make landfall Friday evening. Follow live updates.
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DeSantis says ‘now is your last chance’ to prepare
DeSantis said officials expect Isaias to make landfall near Destin late Friday as a Category 3 hurricane.
Hazardous conditions will begin in the evening beforehand, so “now is your last chance” to prepare, he said at a news conference Friday afternoon.
“You’re going to see water across the entire region of the Florida Panhandle,” DeSantis said.
He urged northern Florida residents, even those outside the hurricane’s path, to prepare for heavy rain and possible tornadoes, telling them to “assume power is going to go out.”
Officials anticipate tornadoes could form near Tallahassee, he said.
Isaias strengthens to Category 3 ahead of expected landfall
National Hurricane Center’s 5 p.m. advisory
Isaias’ maximum sustained winds are near 115 mph, according to the NHC. It’s still a Category 3, major hurricane.
“Conditions deteriorating quickly,” the NHC said. “Residents should be seeking safe shelter.”
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Hurricane #Isaias Advisory 13 (4 PM CDT, Fri Oct 9): Conditions Deteriorating Quickly Within the Storm Surge and Hurricane Warning Areas. Residents Should Be Seeking Safe Shelter. https://t.co/GrztW6mQJV
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) October 9, 2026
Isaias could nudge fuel prices higher if Gulf refineries take a major hit
Hurricane Isaias is forecast to miss the oil industry’s biggest hubs along the Gulf Coast, but could still nudge fuel prices higher if it triggers power outages that shut down refineries for processing crude, according to experts.
An extended refinery shutdown would impact fuel supplies that already have taken a hit from the U.S. war against Iran and Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Experts say that could increase fuel prices by a few cents or even as much as a dollar per gallon. Refineries in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and Mobile, Alabama, account for 2.4% of the nation’s refining capacity.
If the storm moves through quickly with minimal impacts, refineries would continue to run at reduced capacity, and gasoline and diesel prices could rise just a few cents, said Carl Larry with the energy analysis firm Enverus.
Refineries could take weeks to fully recover from a major hit, he added.
How to pronounce Isaias
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he’ll keep “butchering” the pronunciation of Isaias, but you don’t have to.
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Here’s how to say it:
Hurricane Isaias is pronounced “ee-sah-EE-ahs,” not Isaiah.