02 / 10
Florida and Alabama declare emergencies over Isaias
Isaias became the season’s first Atlantic hurricane as Gulf Coast states prepared for wind, rain and storm surge.
What happened
Florida and Alabama declared emergencies as Isaias became the Atlantic season’s first hurricane and later strengthened to category three over the Gulf of Mexico. Forecasts put landfall on the northern US Gulf Coast late Friday. Hurricane and storm-surge watches were issued, and energy operators curtailed offshore operations.
Numbers
- 120 mphSustained winds measured Friday morning — Category three strength
- 6 feetForecast storm surge in Alabama — Especially around high tide
- 25.08%US Gulf oil output suspended — By Wednesday
Questions
- Which areas faced the main threat?
- The National Hurricane Center identified Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida as the states at greatest risk from storm surge, wind and flooding.
- Why did Isaias strengthen quickly?
- Warm Gulf waters supplied energy for intensification, while the wider Atlantic season had stayed quiet because El Niño hindered tropical storm formation.
- How did energy operations change?
- Oil and gas operators paused some Gulf production and evacuated facilities as the storm crossed areas with substantial offshore energy output.
- Which hazards extend inland?
- After landfall, the system was expected to weaken into a tropical storm but still bring dangerous winds and flooding rain northward through Alabama.
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
The catch
The coverage does not confirm where or when Isaias ultimately made landfall, or the damage it caused.
Reports were published before landfall.