Hurricane Isaias live updates: Evacuation orders across Gulf Coast before rapidly strengthening storm’s landfall

Hurricane Isaias is quickly gaining strength Thursday as it barrels toward the Gulf Coast, prompting evacuation orders for a growing list of coastal cities in Florida and Alabama. Forecasters warn the dangerous hurricane is expected to bring life-threatening storm surges , damaging winds, and heavy rain and flooding when it makes landfall late Friday. Tracking Hurricane Isaias’ expected path Thursday, Oct. 8. It is currently a Category 1 hurricane looming over the Gulf and rapidly gaining power as it swirls toward the Alabama-Florida border. FOX Weather Follow live updates on Hurricane Isaias for the latest weather maps, tracker, photos and more: 5 minutes ago Storm surges up to 7 feet to hit Alabama, Florida coasts when Hurricane Isaias lands: forecast map By Grace Johnson Hurricane Isaias is forecast to bring a life-threatening storm surge to the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama, and southern Mississippi when it makes landfall late Friday or early Saturday — surging to seven feet in some areas. A storm surge is an abnormal rise in water levels produced by a storm, exceeding the expected astronomical tide, according to NOAA . Hurricane Isaias rapidly intensifies, evacuation orders expand across Gulf cities ahead of dangerous landfall. FOX Weather Heavy rainfall ranging from 3 to 7 inches may cause coastal flash flooding, forecasters say, while areas as far inland as Tennessee and the western Carolinas could see totals of 1 to 3 inches. Forecasted Storm Surge Heights by Area Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to Indian Pass, Florida: 5-7 feet Mobile Bay, Alabama: 5-7 feet Mouth of the Mississippi River, Louisiana, to Ocean Springs, Mississippi: 5 feet Indian Pass, Florida, to Steinhatchee River, Florida: 4-6 feet Steinhatchee River, Florida, to Yankeetown, Florida: 2-4 feet Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana: 1-3 feet 19 minutes ago Hurricane Isaias could amplify to Category 3 before making landfall: forecast By Kaydi Pelletier The Category 1 Hurricane Isaias is quickly growing more powerful as it spins northeast across the Gulf on Thursday. Hurricane Isaias' location in the Gulf on Thursday. The first hurricane of the 2026 season is currently a Category 1, but is rapidly gaining strength as it careens toward the Gulf Coast. FOX Weather Forecasters expect the storm to be firmly in Category 2 status when it makes landfall on coastal cities in Alabama and Florida on Friday night — but could reach Category 3 strength before then. However, the cyclone is forecast to weaken slightly as it swells to a larger size hurricane by early Saturday morning, CNN reports . 55 minutes ago 'Extreme' threat to Mobile, Ala. and Destin, Fla. from Hurricane Isaias By Kaydi Pelletier Mobile, Alabama's second-most densely populated city, is under an "extreme" threat zone Thursday as Hurricane Isaias makes its way across the Gulf. Nearby Destin — a resort city on Florida's "Emerald Coast," popular for its white-sand beaches and sparkling turquoise waters — falls with the extreme-risk zone as well, according to Fox Weather's latest map. Hurricane Isaias rapidly intensifies as evacuation orders expand across Gulf cities ahead of landfall. FOX Weather Residents from New Orleans to Savannah, and the Gulf Coast up to Chattanooga, should expect torrential rain, storm surges, powerful wind gusts that could top 75 mph, and even potential tornadoes, beginning Friday afternoon, forecasters say. 2 hours ago Calm before the storm: Florida prepares for Hurricane Isaias — pics By Grace Johnson Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey issued a state of emergency for 40 counties, saying in a post on X, “While I hope for minimal impacts, we must take preparations seriously.” City employees removed the lifeguard towers at Richard Seltzer Park in Panama City Beach, Florida, on October 7. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect City employees removed the lifeguard towers at Richard Seltzer Park in Panama City Beach, Florida, in preparation for the storm. Furthermore, the Panama City campus of Florida State University is closed today and tomorrow. The storm is expected to make landfall late tomorrow night near Mobile, Panama City, or Pensacola. People fill up their gas tanks at Costco ahead of the approaching Tropical Storm Isaias in Pensacola. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect People are filling up their gas tanks at Costco ahead of Tropical Storm Isaias approaching Pensacola. Free sand is available at Pete Edwards Field in Panama City Beach, FL. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect Free sand is available at Pete Edwards Field in Panama City Beach, Florida. Beachgoers gather near Richard Seltzer Park in Panama City Beach, Florida. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect Beachgoers gather near Richard Seltzer Park in Panama City Beach, Florida on October 7, 2026. Bay County is under a hurricane watch as Tropical Storm Isaias lingers. 2 hours ago Alabama issues state of emergency for 40 counties ahead of Hurricane Isaias' landfall By Kaydi Pelletier Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey issued a state of emergency for 40 counties Wednesday, well in advance of Hurricane Isaias' expected landfall overnight Friday into Saturday. I have issued a state of emergency for 40 counties. Forecasts continue to show the real likelihood that the tropical system brewing in the Gulf could impact Alabama as a hurricane as early as Friday. While I hope for minimal impacts, we must take preparations seriously. #alwx pic.twitter.com/GFidkQUXO0 — Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) October 7, 2026 The emergency order took effect at 4 p.m. local time (CT) Wednesday — when the cyclone was only classified as a tropical storm — and will remain in effect for a full week, local reports say . It expires at 11:59 p.m. next Wednesday, Oct. 14, though that timing could change.