Hurricane Isaias weakened to a Category 1 storm on Friday, rapidly losing wind speed after hitting the Florida coast, the US National Hurricane Center said while warning of storm surges and snapped power lines as it moves through the Deep South.
The hurricane, crossing the western Florida Panhandle after making landfall near Destin as a Category 2 storm, was about 65 miles (105 km) west-northwest of Panama City, Florida, packing maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 kph), the NHC said in an advisory.
The center warned of possible storm surges, urban and river flooding and flash floods across the region, with considerable impacts likely across much of southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle into southwest Georgia.
Isaias, the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season, is expected to continue weakening but produce gusty winds well inland through Saturday even after it becomes post-tropical, the NHC said.
Alabama's emergency management agency said the hurricane has downed trees and power lines, making travel hazardous in Houston County, which is under a flash flood warning.