Hurricane Isaias Update
Hurricane Isaias is expected to make landfall Friday evening, potentially as a “major” storm, as noted by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in a Friday afternoon briefing. While there are some forecasts suggesting that the hurricane may weaken, it is currently categorized as a Category 3 hurricane, featuring maximum sustained winds reaching up to 120 mph.
DeSantis emphasized, “We’ve said from the beginning we are going to assume that it’s going to make landfall as a major hurricane. And while there are still those who think it might weaken, it could very well hit as a major hurricane.” He cautioned that this could be a “major event.”
He further pointed out that residents in the storm’s path should understand that it isn’t merely a minor tropical system. “This is going to be a powerful hurricane, potentially causing significant damage,” he stated. The National Hurricane Center has adjusted the expected track to the east of Pensacola, indicating stronger probabilities of landfall.
“According to the latest track from the National Hurricane Center, the expected landfall has shifted east of Escambia County. There is increasing confidence that it will make landfall tonight around 11 p.m. in the Santa Rosa and Okaloosa County area, possibly near the border,” DeSantis explained. “It could still shift a bit, but it’s getting close enough for more confidence.”
He also mentioned that if the storm shifts east of Pensacola, there’s a chance that the bay waters might be pushed out, leading to negative storm surges on the weaker side of the storm.
The NHC released an advisory around 2:00 p.m. ET, indicating that tropical storm conditions are already manifesting along the northern Gulf Coast, coupled with a storm surge warning from the Mouth of the Mississippi River to the Suwannee River.
As of 1:00 p.m. CDT, Hurricane Isaias was located at latitude 28.4 North, longitude 87.2 West, moving north-northeast at about 16 mph. This trajectory is anticipated to continue into the evening before shifting north on Saturday. According to the forecast track, Isaias is set to approach the Gulf Coast this afternoon and make landfall within the warning area tonight. Data from NOAA and Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter flights reveal maximum sustained winds of around 120 mph, categorizing Isaias as a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. There may be fluctuations in intensity, but it’s expected to remain near major hurricane strength at landfall, with weakening forecasted to start later tonight.
The advisory also noted that “hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center, while tropical-storm-force winds stretch out to 205 miles.”
