Hurricane Isaias (2026): Storm Recap
Landfall near Destin, Florida on October 9, 2026 as a Category 2 hurricane.
Storm Summary
Hurricane Isaias was the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season and the latest-forming first hurricane on record. It began as Tropical Depression Nine in the southwestern Gulf and reached hurricane strength just before midnight on October 7, breaking a record set in 1905.
Isaias moved northeast across the Gulf and strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane with 110 mph winds as it approached the Florida Panhandle. It made landfall near Destin, Florida, around 8:30 PM CDT on Friday, October 9, with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph and a minimum central pressure of 971 mb.
A NOAA water level gauge in Panama City Beach measured 5.6 feet above normal high tide, and a weather station near Santa Rosa Sound recorded a 116 mph gust. Hurricane warnings stretched from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Bay/Gulf County line in Florida.
Isaias weakened quickly over Alabama and became a post-tropical cyclone near Montgomery early on Saturday, October 10. The National Hurricane Center issued its final advisory at 4 AM CDT. Its remnants were forecast to bring 4 to 8 inches of rain, locally up to 15 inches, to southern Alabama, the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend, and southwest Georgia, with flash flooding and tornadoes possible across the Southeast.
Key Facts
| Formed | Southwestern Gulf, as Tropical Depression Nine |
|---|---|
| Became a hurricane | Late October 7, 2026 (latest first hurricane on record) |
| Peak strength | Category 2, 110 mph |
| Landfall | Near Destin, FL, about 8:30 PM CDT, October 9, 2026 |
| Landfall winds | 105 mph (Category 2), 971 mb |
| Highest surge reading | 5.6 ft above normal high tide (Panama City Beach gauge) |
| Peak gust | 116 mph near Santa Rosa Sound, FL |
| Final NHC advisory | 4 AM CDT, October 10, 2026 |
Free Hurricane Alerts by Text
Get a text when a storm forms or threatens the US coast. Unsubscribe any time.
We only text about active storms. No marketing, no spam.
Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies with storm activity. Reply STOP to cancel, HELP for help.
Official source: National Hurricane Center
This site is for situational awareness only. Always follow official guidance from the National Hurricane Center and your local emergency management office.