Evacuations ordered as record-breaking Hurricane Isaias threatens US with Category 2 landfall

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in parts of Florida as newly formed Hurricane Isaias threatens the US Gulf Coast with life-threatening flooding and damaging winds. Isaias erupted in the Gulf Wednesday night, breaking the record for the latest arrival of a season's first hurricane since satellite tracking began. AccuWeather meteorologists said it is currently predicted to be a Category 2 hurricane when it makes landfall along the US Gulf Coast late Friday evening or early Saturday morning. A hurricane warning stretches from Ocean Springs, Mississippi , across Alabama's coast to Florida's Bay/Gulf county line, with storm surge potentially flooding some coastal areas under five to seven feet of water. The development has triggered evacuations in Florida's Okaloosa and Gulf Counties, while the rest of the Panhandle remains under a state of emergency. Alabama has also issued a state of emergency for counties along the Gulf. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued an urgent warning to the millions of Americans in Isaias' path, saying: 'Evacuation efforts should soon be brought to completion before driving conditions become unsafe. 'Leave immediately if evacuation orders are given for your area to avoid being cut off from emergency services or needlessly risk lives.' Isaias erupted in the Gulf Wednesday night. The hurricane is expected to make a US landfall late Friday evening or early Saturday morning Forecast models track Isaias approaching the US coast on Friday, with landfall expected sometime that evening into early Saturday, striking between Biloxi, Mississippi and Panama City, Florida AccuWeather's forecast shows Isaias moving northeast across the Gulf on Thursday before turning north toward the US coast on Friday. The storm is projected to reach Category 1 hurricane strength by 8pm ET Thursday, then strengthen to Category 2 before making landfall near the Mississippi-Alabama border around 11pm ET Friday. Based on Isaias making landfall as a Category 2, wind gusts of 100 to 120mph are forecast near and just east of the center. AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter warned : 'However, because of the swift forward speed and broadening wind field of Isaias as the storm moves inland, damaging winds and power outages are likely to extend well inland.' The NWS told communities from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to Gulf County, Florida, to prepare for the possibility of 'long-duration power outages.' Monster storm surges of up to seven feet near and east of Isaias' center are also expected for the Northern Gulf Coast, with towns and cities in Mississippi and Florida's Panhandle hit the hardest. However, AccuWeather meteorologists warned that the 'most substantial impact from the brewing storm will be from heavy rainfall.' Isaias is forecast to dump three to seven inches of rain across the central Gulf Coast from Friday through the weekend, with isolated totals of up to 10 inches and flash flooding possible. Panic buying hit states in Isaias' path, with locals stocking up on everything from toilet paper to water and bread, leaving shelves empty This is a breaking news story... More updates to come.