Isaias Kills Two as Storm Weakens Over the US Southeast

Two people have died after Hurricane Isaias struck Florida's Gulf Coast on Friday night, October 9, 2026, before weakening into a post-tropical cyclone on Saturday. Falling trees caused both fatalities, one in Escambia County, Florida, and another in Birmingham, Alabama, while heavy rain, flooding and possible tornadoes threatened communities across the southeastern United States.

Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, at 8:30 p.m. Friday with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (169 km/h), according to the National Hurricane Center. PowerOutage.com reported more than 875,000 homes and businesses without electricity Saturday morning, while PowerOutage.us recorded more than 868,000 affected customers across Florida, Alabama and Georgia.

Although tropical storm warnings and storm surge warnings had been discontinued, the National Hurricane Center warned that significant hazards remained across southern Alabama, Florida's panhandle and southwestern Georgia.

The agency said the storm could still cause "considerable impacts" across the affected region.

Its Saturday morning advisory warned: "Flash, urban and river flooding is possible across the region," with considerable potential for flash flooding and landslides across the southern Appalachians.

The agency also warned: "A risk for tornadoes will persist … through [Saturday] afternoon across parts of the eastern Florida panhandle, Georgia and the Carolinas."

Forecasters expected 4 to 8 inches of rain through Sunday across southern Alabama, Florida's panhandle and Big Bend regions, and southwestern Georgia. Localized totals could reach 15 inches, while other parts of the southeastern United States could receive 2 to 5 inches, with isolated amounts of up to 10 inches across the southern Appalachians and coastal Carolinas.

The US Weather Prediction Center identified a moderate risk of heavy rainfall from western North Carolina south to Georgia. The region experienced catastrophic flooding during Hurricane Helene in 2024, when at least 249 people died nationwide.

Marc Chenard, a senior branch forecaster at the US Weather Prediction Center, emphasized the continuing threat to mountainous communities.

"We still have to keep an eye on the southern Appalachians. It still looks like there could be some significant impacts there through the day," Chenard said.

The US Storm Prediction Center estimated that approximately 12.6 million people from Florida to Virginia faced a Level 2 risk of severe thunderstorms through the weekend, including storms capable of producing torrential rain and tornadoes.

Residents along the Gulf Coast also described the storm's powerful winds and widespread damage. Tim Mowry, who endured Isaias at his home in Pensacola, Florida, told the Associated Press that the winds sounded like "a train whistle."

Mowry lost electricity Friday afternoon but had a generator available. His son attempted to drive to his home after losing power at his own residence about 15 minutes away, but downed trees and power lines blocked the road.

Despite the disruption, Mowry said he felt "really fortunate" about the outcome.

In Crestview, Florida, Ashley Weeks told television station WEAR that a tree from her backyard crashed through her home's roof near her daughter's bedroom, leaving ceiling debris inside the house.

Weeks described the frightening moment and the damage to her home.

"just scary – everything, my whole life is in the house"

She also recalled hearing the impact before discovering the damage.

"We heard a loud … like a bomb went off in the house. It was so loud. And I got up and [saw] the tree through the roof, and it was – freaking out," Weeks said.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey warned that severe weather could continue across parts of the state and urged residents to prepare for additional hazards.

Ivey cautioned residents about "possible spinoff tornadoes" and urged them to "prepare for the worst."

She described the state's immediate concerns in a statement.

"Right now, we are worried about strong winds, heavy rain and possible spinoff tornadoes in certain parts of the state," Ivey said.

The governor also urged people to monitor reliable information as weather conditions changed over the weekend.

"As we approach the weekend and any travel plans, make sure you have reliable information as conditions develop. We often hear in emergency management: Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst. That is the approach we need with this particular storm system," Ivey said.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Saturday morning that his administration had not yet received reports of fatalities in Florida. He credited residents' preparedness and experience with previous tropical storms and hurricanes.

"We're a peninsula in the middle of a tropical part of the world," DeSantis said.

He added: "We've gotta deal with these things," emphasizing the state's recurring exposure to tropical weather systems.

Isaias also disrupted energy production in the Gulf of Mexico during the week before landfall. Companies evacuated workers from offshore platforms as a precaution, while drilling operators moved rigs away from the storm's path.

The storm's timing was unusual for the Atlantic hurricane season, which officially begins June 1. None of the previous eight named storms in the 2026 season had strengthened beyond tropical storm status.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration initially forecast three to six hurricanes for the season, below the historical average of seven. Its August outlook projected two to six hurricanes.

Isaias tied the record for the latest-forming first Atlantic hurricane of a season, previously set on October 8, 1905. The storm was expected to dissipate Sunday as its remnants moved north through Alabama and toward the Tennessee and Ohio valleys.

Separately, the National Hurricane Center forecast that Tropical Storm Rachel could bring flooding rain to parts of California, Arizona and Nevada after approaching the US-Mexico border in northern Baja California. Rare tropical storm watches were in effect across parts of Southern California, including San Diego.

Hurricane Simon was forecast to approach Manzanillo, Mexico, as a Category 4 hurricane, with winds reaching 155 mph. The National Hurricane Center warned that parts of Mexico's west-central coast faced destructive winds, life-threatening storm surge, flooding and mudslides.

The agency warned that "Catastrophic wind and life-threatening storm surge impacts are likely along a portion of the west-central coast of Mexico."

It also warned that the rains "will produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides."