World News
Hurricane Isaias makes Florida landfall as category 2 storm on Friday
States of emergency and mandatory evacuations are in place as storm surge and outage estimates differ across reports.
The short version
- Hurricane Isaias made landfall in Florida on Friday evening as a category 2 storm.[The Guardian · BBC News]
- Florida and Alabama ordered mandatory evacuations, and governors of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida declared states of emergency.[The Guardian · BBC News]
- Florida Senator Rick Scott urged immediate evacuation, while Alabama's governor ordered evacuations for non-residents and visitors in key counties.[BBC News]
- Storm surge and power outage figures differ across reports, so the scope of impacts remains uncertain.[The Guardian · BBC News]
Key facts
- Isaias made landfall in Florida on Friday evening as a category 2 hurricane with 110 mph sustained winds.[The Guardian · BBC News]
- Florida and Alabama instituted mandatory evacuations, and the governors of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida declared states of emergency.[The Guardian · BBC News]
- Alabama Governor Kay Ivey issued a mandatory evacuation for non-residents, tourists and visitors in key counties.[BBC News]
- Florida Senator Rick Scott urged residents in designated areas to evacuate as soon as possible.[BBC News]
- Isaias is the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2026 season and is one of the two latest-forming Atlantic hurricanes on record.[The Guardian · BBC News]
- Meteorologists warned that tornadoes or tornado-like winds could accompany the storm.[The Guardian · BBC News]
- None of the eight previous named storms of the 2026 Atlantic season intensified above tropical storm status.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- Storm surge forecasts differ, with the BBC citing up to 9 feet and the Guardian citing up to 7 feet along the Alabama-Florida line.[The Guardian · BBC News]
- Power outage totals conflict: the BBC cites over 350,000 in Florida and about 170,000 in Alabama, while the Guardian cites over 400,000 across both states.[The Guardian · BBC News]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.
- Life-threatening Hurricane Isaias makes landfall in FloridaBBC News - Top Stories
- Hurricane Isaias makes landfall in Florida with severe effects expected across several statesThe Guardian - World
- Key things to know about Hurricane Isaias as millions under evacuation ordersThe Guardian - World
- Hurricane Isaias makes landfall in FloridaDeutsche Welle
- Hundreds of thousands without power after Isaias slams the Florida Panhandle and AlabamaABC News - US News
- Isaias lashes Southeast after making landfall in the U.S.CBS News - Top Stories
- Hurricane Isaias leaves two dead and 800,000 without power in US SoutheastAl Jazeera
- At least 2 deaths attributed to Isaias after hurricane bashes Florida and AlabamaNPR - Top News
- Ron DeSantis deploys an army of linemen as Florida races to clear roads, restore power after Isaias' landfallFox News
- Four dead and thousands without power after Hurricane Isaias lashes USBBC News - World
- Storm Isaias leaves 4 dead as it moves across southern USDeutsche Welle
- Some in Florida and Alabama without power as Isaias moves north to Appalachians and Mid-AtlanticABC News - US News
- Thousands without power in Florida and Alabama as Isaias moves northThe Guardian - World
- Some in Florida and Alabama without power as Isaias moves north to Appalachians and Mid-AtlanticAssociated Press
- Hurricane Isaias’ devastating aftermath comes into focus in striking imagesFox News
- Hurricane Isaias leaves trail of destruction in SoutheastCBS News - US
- Coast-to-coast cleanup after three storms batter North AmericaNBC News - Top Stories
- Hurricane Isaias shows ‘it only takes one’ to wreak havoc after historically calm Atlantic hurricane seasonScientific American metered
- Florida officials say six people dead from Hurricane IsaiasThe Guardian - World