Hurricane Isaias makes landfall in US as another powerful storm barrels towards Mexico
Hurricane Isaias has made landfall in the US, bringing winds of more than 100mph and the risk of floods, storm surges and tornadoes. <p>It comes as another storm, Simon, has strengthened into a powerful category 4 hurricane that was barrelling towards <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/mexico-6001/1" target="_self">Mexico</a></strong>'s coast.</p><p>Simon's maximum sustained winds increased to 140mph (225kph) and it could bring 25-50cm (10-20in) of rain over parts of southwestern Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Centre.</p><p>The heavy rainfall may be centred along Jalisco's coast, and in parts of Michoacan, Colima, and Nayarit, with forecasters warning of life-threatening floods and mudslides.</p><p>Meanwhile, category 2 storm Isaias reached land near Destin in <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/florida-5687/1" target="_self">Florida</a></strong> on Friday.</p><p>More than 594,000 homes and businesses in Florida and <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/alabama-5713/1" target="_self">Alabama</a></strong> were without power, according to poweroutage.com.</p><widget id="25"></widget> <widget id="13"></widget><p>Winds of 105mph have been recorded - with warnings of a tornado threat across parts of Alabama, Georgia, the Florida Panhandle and the Carolinas.</p><p>Roads in Destin were flooded, while in nearby Pensacola, police warned residents to stay off the streets because of debris across roads.</p><p>Florida's National Guard deployed about 5,000 soldiers and air force members to help with the response.</p><p>Search and rescue teams were on high alert and some prisons evacuated inmates.</p> <widget id="24"></widget> <widget id="14"></widget> <widget id="15"></widget><p>Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warned residents to expect power outages, fuel shortages and the closure of bridges and highways.</p><p>"The storm is here. Buckle down at this point. Don't be getting out on the roads," he said.</p><p>Several counties announced mandatory evacuations while the city of Mobile, Alabama, imposed a curfew from Friday evening until Saturday.</p> <widget id="16"></widget> <widget id="22"></widget><p>Flights out of several airports, including all flights into and out of Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, were grounded due to the weather.</p><p>Donald Trump said the government was watching the hurricane's progress closely and preparations were "under control".</p><p>The US president scrapped his plans to attend Saturday's football game between the University of Georgia and the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa as the hurricane loomed.</p> <widget id="17"></widget> <widget id="21"></widget><p>As it moved inland, Isaias was later downgraded to Category 1 hurricane, which covers storms with winds of 74-95mph.</p><p>Heavy rain and potential flooding are forecast as it moves inland.</p><p><strong>Read more from Sky News:</strong><br /><strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/trump-says-russia-will-immediately-supply-300-000-tons-of-diesel-with-millions-more-to-follow-13597040" target="_self">Trump strikes diesel deal with Putin</a><br /><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/firing-squad-execution-of-mass-killer-nidal-hasan-to-be-livestreamed-pentagon-says-13596660" target="_self">Execution to be livestreamed</a></strong></p> <widget id="23"></widget><p>Tropical Storm Rachel is also expected to bring heavy winds and rain to northern Mexico and Southern California over the weekend.</p>