Hurricane Isaias makes landfall on US Gulf Coast as category 2 storm

Hurricane Isaias has made landfall on the US Gulf Coast as a Category 2 storm, bringing damaging winds, heavy rain, flooding and life-threatening storm surges. The first hurricane of the Atlantic season made landfall near Destin, Florida, with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. The storm weakened to just below major hurricane status before coming ashore and, by early Saturday, was no longer considered a hurricane as its wind speeds continued to decrease. "The storm is here. Buckle down at this point. Don’t be getting out on the roads," Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis said at a news conference, warning that flash flooding would be a hazard “throughout the region”. A 'gift to Putin': Zelenskyy condemns Trump's deal to obtain diesel from Russia WHO wants answers from Russia on death of worker at plague research lab Hurricane-force winds battered the Gulf shoreline in the low-lying coastal area. Forecasters warned that the conditions could also trigger tornadoes across the Florida Panhandle and into southern Georgia. “We’re watching it very closely, the hurricane,” President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House late on Friday night, adding that it was “under control”. Roads in Destin were flooded, while police in nearby Pensacola urged residents to stay off the streets because of debris across roadways. Although the full extent of the damage was not immediately known, many residents posted pictures online showing fallen trees and power lines. A social media video also showed the roof being ripped off an inn in Pensacola. Some Panhandle counties temporarily suspended emergency response operations on Friday night because of dangerous conditions. Parts of southern Alabama were also flooded, with officials in Mobile reporting fallen trees and power lines. Roads in Houston County, in the southeastern corner of the state, were closed because of similar conditions. Satellite image shows Hurricane Isaias approaching the Gulf Coast of Alabama and Florida. More than 664,000 customers in Florida and Alabama were without power early on Saturday, according to poweroutage.com. One of the biggest concerns was a storm surge that could reach 3 to 5 feet (0.91 to 1.52 metres) from Dauphin Island, Alabama, to Florida’s Aucilla River, according to the hurricane centre. The National Hurricane Centre said dangerous conditions were expected across the western Panhandle, southern Alabama, and southern Mississippi. Several counties announced mandatory evacuations, while Mobile, Alabama, imposed a curfew until Saturday morning. DeSantis warned residents to expect petrol shortages and bridge and highway closures. The state’s National Guard deployed about 5,000 soldiers and airmen to help with the response, while search-and-rescue teams stood ready. Some prisons also evacuated inmates. Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning. The storm could bring heavy rain across the region Isaias was already weakening after making landfall and was expected to be downgraded to a tropical storm by Saturday afternoon, the hurricane centre said. However, heavy rain was forecast as it moved inland, with 4 to 8 inches, or potentially more, expected over the weekend from southern Alabama to southwestern Georgia. Isaias was the first hurricane to hit the eastern US since Milton battered Florida’s Gulf Coast in 2024. It was also expected to bring heavy rain and potential flooding to much of the Southeast over the weekend, before moving towards parts of the Midwest and Northeast by Monday . Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...