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Hurricane Isaias Strikes Florida Panhandle, Leaves Widespread Damage

The storm made landfall as a Category 2 and though it has weakened, heavy inland rain and ongoing flood risks will affect communities across the Southeast.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 09: A fallen tree blocks a street as wind and rain from Hurricane Isaias approach the area on October 09, 2026, in Pensacola, Florida. Hurricane Isaias is in the Gulf of Mexico as the season's first Atlantic hurricane. It is projected to make landfall along the northern U.S. Gulf Coast as a category two hurricane. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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PENSACOLA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 09: A fallen tree blocks a street as wind and rain from Hurricane Isaias approach the area on October 09, 2026, in Pensacola, Florida. Hurricane Isaias is in the Gulf of Mexico as the season's first Atlantic hurricane. It is projected to make landfall along the northern U.S. Gulf Coast as a category two hurricane. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Hurricane Isaias makes landfall near Florida’s Destin; Pensacola hit by strong winds.

Overview

  • The National Hurricane Center says Isaias made landfall near Destin late Friday as a Category 2 hurricane with about 105 mph sustained winds and an eyewall that produced life‑threatening storm surge along the northern Gulf Coast.
  • Hurricane‑force winds and surge damaged buildings, tore roofs from hotels and condos, downed trees and power lines, and forced temporary suspension of some emergency responses in the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama.
  • Outage trackers and utilities reported hundreds of thousands of customers without power across Florida, Alabama and Georgia with totals fluctuating between roughly 300,000 and more than 900,000 as crews assess damage and begin restorations.
  • Local officials have reported multiple storm‑related deaths but counts vary by source and some state authorities have not yet confirmed all fatalities; search‑and‑rescue teams and about 5,000 National Guard members were deployed for response.
  • Although Isaias rapidly weakened after landfall, forecasters warn of 4 to 8 inches of rain or more in places, continued flash‑flood and tornado threats inland, and secondary disruptions such as road closures, longer power outages, and potential fuel supply impacts as recovery proceeds.