Hurricane Isaias Barrels Toward Gulf Coast as Category 3 Storm

Hurricane Isaias, the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season, strengthened to Category 3 on Friday as it moved toward the northern Gulf Coast. With maximum sustained winds of 115 mph, it was expected to make landfall that evening along the western Florida Panhandle. Hurricane warnings covered parts of Mississippi and Florida, while Alabama and coastal communities prepared for dangerous winds and storm surge. Officials urged residents to finish preparations quickly. Forecasters expected Isaias to weaken after landfall and move inland across Alabama into the Tennessee Valley