"Isaias strengthened to a hurricane and is forecast to rapidly intensify as it heads toward U.S. landfall on Oct. 9, the National Hurricane Center said.
Isaias became a hurricane less than 20 hours after becoming a tropical storm. It's the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, and the ninth named storm of the season.
Isaias could have winds of over 100 mph by Friday as it approaches the United States, according to the center's hurricane specialists. It's forecast to peak before making landfall, but could still be a "significant" hurricane when it reaches the coast, with strong winds and flooding rain, the hurricane center said. It should then dramatically weaken."
Doyle Rice, Jeanine Santucci and Dinah Voyles Pulver report for USA TODAY October 7, 2026.
SEE ALSO:
"Tropical Storm Isaias To Threaten Gulf Coast As A Hurricane" (CNN)
"Tropical Storm Isaias Gains Strength In Gulf: What Can Alabama Expect?" (Mobile Register)
"Replay video: Meteorologist Tracks Isaias, A Hurricane In The Making" (Tallahassee Democrat)
