Isaias heading for US mainland - the first Atlantic hurricane this year
The Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from 1 June to 30 November, has been unusually quiet this year. <p>So far, eight tropical storms have formed: Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo and Hanna.</p><p>None of those reached hurricane strength, setting a satellite-era record for the latest formation of a season's first hurricane.</p><p>The ninth tropical storm, Isaias, has now strengthened, becoming the Atlantic's first hurricane this year.</p><widget id="5"></widget> <widget id="7"></widget><p>The National Hurricane Centre expects Isaias to intensify over the Gulf's very warm waters into a high-end category two hurricane before reaching the US Gulf coast late on Friday or early on Saturday.</p><p>But it remains unclear how much the hurricane will be affected by strong wind shear - changes in wind speed and direction with height - near the coast.</p><p>Landfall is most likely in <a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/mississippi-5736/1" target="_self"><strong>Mississippi</strong></a>, <a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/alabama-5713/1" target="_self"><strong>Alabama</strong></a> or the <a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/florida-5687/1" target="_self"><strong>Florida</strong></a> Panhandle.</p><p>Warnings are in force, with a life-threatening storm surge of 5ft to 7ft (1.7-2.1m) the main concern for the low-lying coastal regions.</p><p>Heavy rain, as much as six inches, and damaging winds, are also expected to affect the area.</p><p>If it continues to strengthen, it could become a category three storm, defined as one with wind speeds of 111-129mph (179-208kmh), according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.</p><p>Should this happen, there could be extensive structural damage to small buildings and serious coastal flooding in low-lying areas, potentially necessitating evacuations.</p> <widget id="6"></widget><p>Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 25 Florida counties ahead of Hurricane Isaias' arrival.</p><p>After moving inland, Isaias will weaken rapidly, although heavy rain will affect a broad area of the southeastern US this weekend.</p><p>No other storms are forecast in the Atlantic Basin within the next seven days.</p><p><strong>Read more on Sky News:</strong><br /><a href="https://news.sky.com/video/what-happens-if-britains-gas-runs-out-ed-conway-explains-13596332" target="_self"><strong>What happens if the UK runs out of gas?</strong></a><br /><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/israel-confirms-it-is-closing-the-british-consulate-in-east-jerusalem-after-uk-ban-on-trade-with-illegal-west-bank-settlements-13596361" target="_self"><strong>British consulate becomes UK Mission</strong></a><br /><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/number-of-wildfires-recorded-in-england-in-2026-was-second-highest-on-record-13596407" target="_self"><strong>UK sees second-highest wildfires total</strong></a></p><p>The Atlantic was forecast to have a quieter hurricane season this year because of the 'historic' El Nino event in the Pacific.</p><p>In the Atlantic, El Nino increases wind shear, which can disrupt thunderstorms before they become tropical storms or hurricanes.</p> <widget id="4"></widget><p>Dry, dusty air across the region is further suppressing storm formation.</p><p>By contrast, El Nino has likely increased hurricane activity in the eastern Pacific.</p><p>The basin has recorded 19 tropical storms, including nine hurricanes, seven of which reached major hurricane strength at category three or above.</p>