Hurricane Isaias downgraded after making landfall in Florida

Key Points:

• Hurricane Isaias, the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season, has been downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone after making landfall on Florida's northern Gulf Coast, causing heavy rains, powerful winds, and widespread power outages across Florida, Alabama, and Georgia.
• States of emergency were declared in the affected states, with mandatory evacuations ordered in Florida and Alabama for vulnerable coastal and key counties; federal emergency declarations were also approved to facilitate resource deployment.
• Isaias is notable for being the first hurricane to form in the Atlantic season after October in over 30 years, with its storm surge and winds prompting significant preparations and closures, including the temporary shutdown of several Waffle House locations.
• The post-tropical cyclone is moving northward into Alabama and the Tennessee Valley, while hundreds of thousands remain without power; meanwhile, residents in affected areas have taken various protective measures despite some choosing to stay.
• In addition to Isaias, two other storms are impacting North America: Hurricane Simon is intensifying off Mexico’s Pacific coast, and Tropical Storm Rachel is approaching the US-Mexico border, causing high tides and expected landfall soon.