Hurricane Isaias makes landfall in Florida with severe effects expected across several states

Hurricane Isaias has made landfall near Destin, Florida, as the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2026 season, striking the northern Gulf Coast as a category 2 storm with winds of up to 105 mph before weakening to category 1. Governors in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida have declared states of emergency ahead of the storm, testing a reduced FEMA capacity. The National Hurricane Center confirmed the cyclone’s landfall in the early evening, marking a significant early-season test for emergency preparedness. With the storm now downgraded, officials are monitoring its path as it moves inland.

Governors of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida declared states of emergency as a downsized Fema faces first major testHurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, on Friday evening, sweeping ashore from the northern Gulf of Mexico as the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2026 season.The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami said the center of the cyclone made landfall at 9.30pm ET as a category 2 hurricane with winds reaching 105 mph (165km/h). Two hours later, it was downgraded to a category 1 storm. Continue reading...