Isaias becomes first 2026 Atlantic hurricane, threatens Gulf Coast with 7-foot surge
Tropical Storm Isaias intensified into a hurricane late Wednesday, becoming the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season. The National Hurricane Center forecasts it will make landfall along the northern U.S. Gulf Coast between late Friday and early Saturday. A hurricane warning is in effect from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Florida Bay/Gulf county line, with a storm surge warning extending to Yankeetown, Florida. The system is expected to bring 3 to 10 inches of rain to the central Gulf Coast and potentially reach the Ohio Valley by midweek next week.