Tropical Depression Nine Eyes Category 1 or 2 Gulf Landfall as 10 Inches of Rain Threaten Southeast
Updated
Updated · The Weather Channel · Oct 6
Tropical Depression Nine Eyes Category 1 or 2 Gulf Landfall as 10 Inches of Rain Threaten Southeast
3 articles · Updated · The Weather Channel · Oct 6
Summary
Tropical Depression Nine is forecast to become Tropical Storm Isaias on Wednesday and the 2026 Atlantic season’s first hurricane on Thursday before reaching the northern Gulf Coast late Friday or early Saturday.
Warm Gulf waters in the 80s are expected to fuel rapid strengthening, though increasing wind shear farther north could cap the storm near Category 1 or 2 intensity at landfall.
Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle faces the main coastal threat, with storm surge, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes expected mostly along and east of the eventual track.
As much as 10 inches of rain could fall locally, with 3 to 6 inches more broadly, pushing flood risk inland across the Southeast, Appalachians, parts of the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic through the weekend.
With record-breaking Gulf temperatures fueling its rapid growth, could Hurricane Isaias defy northern wind shear and unleash unprecedented devastation?
How are historically warm Gulf waters rewriting the rules of modern hurricane forecasting just days before this massive storm makes landfall?
As an unpredictable turn threatens the Gulf Coast, will the sudden state of emergency be enough to protect millions from catastrophic flash floods?