Hurricane Isaias kills at least four people as millions are still under threat

Tropical Storm Isaias formed off the coast of eastern Mexico on October 7, 2026, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. Forecasters predicted it would rapidly intensify into a hurricane and make landfall along the US Gulf Coast by late Friday or early Saturday. By Thursday, Isaias had strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane with wind speeds around 75 mph, located about 460 miles south-southwest of the Mississippi River's mouth.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 25 counties, urging residents from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle to prepare for potential severe weather impacts. Isaias could strengthen into a Category 3 hurricane, posing life-threatening dangers with heavy rains, storm surges, and possible tornadoes across several states.

The National Hurricane Center warned that dangerous storm surge conditions were expected along southeast Louisiana to Florida’s Big Bend region, while flash flooding was anticipated due to 3 to 7 inches of rain. This late-season development nearly ties the record for the latest first Atlantic hurricane set in 1905.