Hurricane Isaias Forms As It Churns Across Gulf, Forecasters Say

Hurricane Isaias formed late Wednesday night and is expected to strengthen as it churns across the Gulf, forecasters said.

By Tiffany Razzano, Patch Staff

Oct 8, 2026 9:23 AM EDT

Hurricane Isaias formed late Wednesday night and is expected to strengthen as it churns across the Gulf, forecasters said. (Courtesy of National Hurricane Center)

Hurricane Isaias formed late Wednesday night as it churned across the southwest Gulf, forecasters said.

Isaias is the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season and the latest first hurricane to form in more than 100 years.

The system, which is tracking northeast, is expected to make landfall as a strong Category 2 storm late Friday night along the central Gulf Coast, AccuWeather said.

"There is a chance the storm peaks as a Category 3, or major hurricane, while over the central Gulf," AccuWeather's chief meteorologist Bernie Rayno warned.

Isaias, currently heading east across the Gulf, is expected to make a turn northeast and then north as it passes north of the Yucatan Peninsula later Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center's 8 a.m. update.

(National Hurricane Center)

NHC forecasters expect the storm to make landfall along the U.S. northern Gulf Coast within the warning area late Friday or early Saturday.

A hurricane warning is in effect for Ocean Springs, Mississippi to the Bay/Gulf County line in the Florida panhandle, the agency said.

A tropical storm warning is in place for the Jefferson/Plaquemines Parish Line in Louisiana to west of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and east of the Bay/Gulf County line to the Aucilla River in Florida, NHC said.

A storm surge warning is also in effect for the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Steinhatchee River in Florida, while a storm surge watch is in place for the Steinhatchee River to Yankeetown, Florida.

In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 25 counties on Tuesday night, before Isaias formed, warning that impacts from the storm could threaten portions of the Panhandle and Big Bend area.

Isaias has maximum sustained winds near 80 mph, with higher gusts, and is expected to continue strengthening as it makes its way to landfall.

"Isaias should remain a dangerous hurricane as it approaches the northern Gulf Coast Friday night," NHC said.

"The only inhibiting factor will be varying amounts of wind shear," which can disrupt the circulation of tropical storms and hurricanes, AccuWeather's lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva said.

"Our forecast track has the storm avoiding the strongest wind shear, which should foster strengthening," DaSilva added. "Since Isaias will be moving along with wind shear, in part, the inhibiting effect might be reduced."