Hurricane warnings in effect for Florida Panhandle
Isaias has strengthened into the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.
The National Hurricane Center issued a special advisory at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday after Hurricane Hunter aircraft measured maximum sustained winds of 75 mph.
At the time, Isaias was traveling east-northeast at about 9 mph.
A hurricane warning is now in effect for part of Florida’s western Panhandle.
North Florida and communities along the Gulf Coast could face hurricane-force winds, storm surge, flooding and tornadoes from late Friday night into Saturday morning.
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Forecasters expect the system to strengthen steadily, potentially reaching Category 2 status over the central Gulf. It may then lose some strength before making landfall as increasing wind shear begins to weaken the storm.
Isaias is now the latest first hurricane to form in the satellite era, which began in 1966, surpassing the previous record set on Sept. 11.
The 2026 hurricane season officially continues through Nov. 30.
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About the Author
Jonathan Kegges
Jonathan Kegges joined the News 6 team in June 2019 and reports on weather for television and the station’s digital platforms.