10/09/2026
EDIT: BREAKING UPDATE As of 7:20 am this morning, Hurricane Hunters flew through the center of Hurricane Isaias and found a dramatic pressure drop to 959mb and winds have now jumped to 120mph. This makes Isaias a category 3 hurricane approach the northern gulf coast. If you are told to evacuate, you should have already done so, and if there are new evacuation orders, please do so now.
Previous Update, 6:30am
Hurricane Isaias has strengthened overnight and has begun to develop a much better eye presentation in satellite images this morning. Winds have increased to near 110mph and is now being forecast to reach cat 3 intensity before landfall later tonight or early Saturday. NHC states in its forecast discussion that they believe Isaias will weaken to a strong cat 2 at landfall do to increased windshear. However, if that onset of shear is even 6hrs or so later than expected, that could allow the hurricane to maintain cat 3 status. Regardless of wind speed of 110mph or 115mph, it will remain a deadly and dangerous hurricane as that stronger wind will have already pushed the water out in front of its approach so the surge levels would remain elevated to cat 3 levels. Once the water is in motion, it takes less force to keep it moving.
The next big concern is shown in the 2 images below. I have circled the outer band that has developed like many of the hi-res hurricane models suggested. In this band in satellite and radar, it appears a line of supercell type storms are developing and approaching the Florida coast. Usually in tropical systems we get tornadoes on the outer reaches of the core in the feeder bands many miles away from the center. In general, these tornadoes can be weak but damaging and quick hitters. This is starting to look like it could the opposite of a normal tornado threat with some possibly being much stronger and longer duration as the band continues to push inland. That threat doesn't dissipate after landfall either. It could remain for the duration of the systems life even while pushing much further inland. Have a NOAA weather radio on at all times today through Saturday and even into the deep south as we progress for the possibility of large, damaging, long tracked tornadoes.
As I said yesterday, go follow my friend Mark Sudduth and HurricaneTrack for live coverage on Youtube and consider joining his Patreon channel for more camera angles along the coast. He and the team will be starting this morning to place those cameras in key spots along the Florida gulf coast.
