Hurricane Isaias Weakens to Category 1 After Florida Landfall

Hurricane Isaias has decreased in intensity to a Category 1 storm after making landfall in Florida as a Category 2, according to the US National Hurricane Center. As of Friday, Isaias had maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 kph) and was positioned 65 miles west-northwest of Panama City, Florida. The hurricane initially hit near Destin before moving across the Florida Panhandle. Isaias is the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season. It is projected to further weaken but will continue to cause gusty winds inland through Saturday as it transitions to a post-tropical state. The US National Hurricane Center has issued warnings of potential storm surges, urban, river, and flash flooding in the region, impacting areas of southern Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, and southwest Georgia. Emergency management services in Alabama have reported downed trees and power lines, especially affecting Houston County, which is under a flash flood warning. Closed roads and significant power outages have been reported, with over 412,000 people in Florida and nearly 243,000 people in Alabama experiencing power loss. Emergency declarations have been made in both Florida and Alabama to ensure necessary federal resources are allocated for response efforts. The storm is expected to move across Alabama into the Tennessee Valley over the weekend.