Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, on the evening of October 9 as a Category 2 hurricane with 105 mph winds, then tore across Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas. It killed at least four people, knocked out power to about 900,000 customers at its peak and spawned tornadoes two days later.
It was the first hurricane to hit the US mainland in two years, since Milton in October 2024, The Weather Channel reported.
What were Isaias's key numbers?
| Landfall | Near Destin, Fla., evening of Oct. 9 |
| Strength at landfall | Category 2, 105 mph |
| Peak strength | Category 3, 120 mph (Oct. 9) |
| Highest gust | 118 mph in Jay, Fla.; 117 mph near Oriole Beach |
| Deaths | At least 4 confirmed (some tallies say 5) |
| Peak power outages | About 900,000 customers |
| Highest rainfall | 12.97 inches in Bellwood, Ala. |
| Peak surge (preliminary) | ~5.6 feet in Panama City |
How many people died?
At least four deaths have been confirmed in the United States:
- Florida: A woman was killed when a tree fell on her home in Escambia County, and a man died after running a generator inside his home.
- Alabama: A person in Birmingham died when a tree fell on their home, and another person died of a cause not yet released.
The Center for Disaster Philanthropy puts the toll at at least five.
Where was the worst damage?
In Pensacola, a hotel roof was blown off and gas station canopies collapsed. A falling tree crushed a business in Fort Walton Beach, and several RVs flipped. Roofs were also torn off in Milton, and three bridges in the Pensacola area were closed.
A rare extreme wind warning was issued for the western Panhandle as the eyewall came ashore. Six stations recorded gusts above 100 mph.
Preliminary National Weather Service figures showed storm surge of about 5.6 feet in Panama City, 4 feet in Destin and 2.7 feet in Pensacola.
How far inland did Isaias reach?
Isaias weakened quickly over Alabama but carried heavy rain and wind far inland:
| Place | Impact |
|---|---|
| Bellwood, Ala. | 12.97 in. of rain in 13 hours |
| Headland, Ala. | 71 mph gust |
| Macon, Ga. | 68 mph gust |
| Western North Carolina | Up to 9 in. of rain; washed-out roads |
| South Carolina | Up to 6 in. of rain |
| Western Virginia | 5+ in. of rain |
Trees and power lines came down across Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas. Alabama had more than 300,000 customers without power and Georgia more than 126,000.
Did Isaias cause tornadoes?
Yes. On October 10 and 11, tornadoes touched down from eastern Georgia into the Carolinas. A cluster hit the Savannah River Valley near Newington and Oliver, Georgia. Three homes were heavily damaged near Allendale, South Carolina, and a building was destroyed in Candor, North Carolina, The Weather Channel reported.
Why was Isaias historic?
Isaias became the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season on the night of October 7, one of the latest first hurricanes on record. It then rapidly intensified into a Category 3 before wind shear weakened it slightly ahead of landfall.
The storm also hit energy markets. About 63% of Gulf of Mexico oil production was briefly shut in, two refineries went offline, and the administration approved releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Panic buying of gasoline was reported in Alabama.
What help is available?
- Federal aid: President Trump approved a disaster declaration for dozens of Georgia counties. Residents of declared counties can apply at DisasterAssistance.gov or 1-800-621-3362.
- Shelters: The American Red Cross opened 21 shelters across the Gulf Coast at the height of the storm.
- Aerial imagery: NOAA has posted aerial images of the damage online, which can help homeowners and insurers assess damage.
Generator safety: Never run a generator indoors or in a garage. Carbon monoxide can kill within minutes.
For live tracking of the Pacific's latest storm, see our Hurricane Trudy tracker.
