Three southern states—Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida—have declared states of emergency as Hurricane Isaias made landfall along the Florida Panhandle, marking the first major Atlantic hurricane of the 2026 season.
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, the storm’s center touched down near Destin, Florida, at 9:30 p.m. ET on Friday evening. The cyclone, which moved ashore from the northern Gulf of Mexico, maintained Category 2 status with sustained winds reaching 105 mph (165 km/h).
The landfall presents a significant early challenge for the downsized Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), which is facing its first major test under the current administrative configuration. Officials anticipate severe effects extending across multiple states as the hurricane pushes inland.
Can anyone confirm if the power is out in the panhandle yet? My cousin lives near Panama City.
First major hurricane of the season is always the scariest. Good luck to everyone on the coast.
Wow, 105 mph winds right near Destin. I hope the infrastructure holds up against such a direct hit.
Is FEMA really understaffed this much? That seems like a critical detail they missed in the rush to cover the landfall.
Thank goodness everyone in the path stayed safe. These storms are getting more unpredictable every year.