Bryan Norcross: Hurricane Isaias to make landfall this evening with widespread impacts across the Southeast
Damaging winds, storm surge, and rain heavy enough to cause flooding will affect the entire Florida Panhandle beginning late this afternoon, peaking this evening. Overnight, strong winds, which will likely knock out power, and torrential rain will spread into Alabama, Georgia, and eastern Mississippi.
NHC Director Michael Brennan joins FOX Weather as Isaias becomes a major Category 3 hurricane
Hurricane Isaias has been upgraded to a major category 3 storm as it continues to barrel toward the Gulf Coast. National Hurricane Center Michael Brennan joins FOX Weather with the latest.
Last updated at 10 a.m. on Oct. 9, 2026
Hurricane Isaias has intensified into a well-developed Category 3 hurricane and is making its move toward the Gulf Coast. Thankfully, the upper-level winds are somewhat hostile, or it would have gotten a lot stronger like Milton did two years ago. The peak winds will likely decrease a bit later today as the system approaches landfall, but it won't change the impacts significantly.
LATEST FROM FOX WEATHER HURRICANE SPECIALIST BRYAN NORCROSS
Satellite imagery of Hurricane Isaias (CIRA CSU)
Damaging winds, storm surge, and rain heavy enough to cause flooding will affect the entire Florida Panhandle beginning late this afternoon, peaking this evening. Overnight, strong winds, which will likely knock out power, and torrential rain will spread into Alabama, Georgia, and eastern Mississippi. Tornadoes will also be a threat in the outer bands north and well east of Isaias's center, including Tallahassee, North Florida, and into Georgia.
LIVE UPDATES: HURRICANE ISAIAS THREATENS THE GULF COAST WITH DANGEROUS LANDFALL TONIGHT
The El Niño-driven jet stream ripping across the south will morph the storm into something of a comma shape. The worst weather is likely to be ahead of the center of circulation and in the tail of the comma well to the east. The jet stream will energize torrential rain, and tornadoes are possible in both the head and tail of the storm as it moves inland.
TIMELINE: WHEN AND WHERE HURRICANE ISAIAS WILL IMPACT THE GULF COAST
Strong wind gusts are likely over a wide area, including the entire State of Alabama and most of Georgia, especially near and to the east of where the center of Isaias tracks.
Bad weather will arrive well in advance of the center, which will cross the coast mid to late evening on the current schedule. Thunderstorms are likely along the I-10 corridor this afternoon with the worst weather arriving in the evening. The threat of heavy rain and tornadoes will continue through the night and into tomorrow as the comma-shaped hurricane pushes north.
Tornado threat (FOX Weather / FOX Weather)
The hurricane will merge with a large upper-level low-pressure system to spread tropical moisture across the Southeast. The combo system will draw moisture from the Atlantic as well as the Gulf, elevating the flood threat along the Carolina coast in addition to higher elevations well inland. Stay aware of flood alerts issued for your area.
Isaias will push Gulf water over the coast along a large portion of the northern Gulf. The National Hurricane Center is forecasting the tide to be up to 7 feet above normal height around the time of landfall. That assumes that landfall occurs around high tide time. If the tide is lower, obviously the impact would be a bit diminished, but there isn't much tidal swing on the northern Gulf beaches.
Storm surge forecast (FOX Weather / FOX Weather)
Early today is the last chance to maneuver before the weather starts deteriorating this afternoon. Stay aware of the alerts from the National Weather Service and instructions from local officials.
Tomorrow is a big football Saturday across the Southeast. If you are attending a game, consider carefully before getting on the road. Trees might be down, power might be out, and flooding rain is likely in some areas.
In Mexico and the U.S. Southwest
Tropical Storm Rachel is heading for landfall in the northern part of Baja California but is forecast to track over the southeastern part of the State of California before as it’s morphing into a non-tropical storm.
TROPICAL STORM RACHEL TARGETS THE WEST COAST WITH FLOODING RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS
Pacific Basin on Oct. 9, 2026 (FOX Weather)
Tropical moisture from Rachel will spread across Southern California on Sunday on its way to the Desert Southwest and into the Intermountain West where flooding is possible. Gusty downpours look likely from the remnants of the tropical system near the track of the center. Stay aware of local alerts from the National Weather Service.
Farther south, Hurricane Simon is heading for landfall north of Manzanillo and south of Puerto Vallarta. It is forecast to intensify into a Category 4 before impacting the coast. It will pass close to Puerto Vallarta about Sunday. It's unusual for a hurricane to affect that city directly. People in Manzanillo and Mazatlan should also pay close attention to the forecast.