MIAMI: Hurricane Isaias strengthened on Thursday as it barreled toward the US Gulf Coast, prompting mandatory evacuations in parts of Florida and emergency declarations in Alabama as forecasters warned of life-threatening storm surges, tornadoes and flooding.
The first Atlantic hurricane of the 2026 season was packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kph early on Thursday, the US National Hurricane Center said. Isaias was forecast to strengthen to near Category 3 intensity, with sustained winds reaching 175 kph on Friday before reaching the northern Gulf Coast late Friday or early Saturday.
