10/09/2026
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Hurricane Isaias is a dangerous Category 3 storm Friday afternoon, moving towards the Florida Panhandle coast for landfall this evening. The official NHC forecast is for a Category 3 at landfall...there's hope it could weaken to a Cat 2 at landfall, but hope is not a strategy. Plan for a Cat 3 and SIGNIFICANT impacts around the eyewall, even as the circulation moves into Alabama. Much of the reliable guidance is centered near Fort Walton Beach for landfall, but a hurricane is not just a spot. The impacts are far-reaching.
Widespread wind gusts of 40-60 mph will impact the Wiregrass, but locations in the cone swath shown here could see 60-80 mph gusts well into Alabama, stronger in the Panhandle. Okaloosa, Walton, Covington counties...the biggest impacts in our TV coverage area.
Rain totals of 2-4" with bands of 4-7" are possible. I expect widespread tree damage and power outages as the rain falls on already wet ground.
The main impact window is 5 pm to midnight. The tornado threat is primarily confined to very far Southeast Alabama, southward to the coast, then eastward overnight. We'll have to watch the back edge of the rain shield lifting northward for the main tornado threat...which occurs later this evening.
Much of the area should dry out by midnight, with the main impacts shifting north and east of our area. Perhaps some rain returns in spots later Saturday. -WTVY Meteorologist David Paul
