Tropical Storm Isaias forecast to become first Atlantic hurricane of 2026

Tropical Storm Isaias emerged in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday morning and is anticipated to intensify into a hurricane early Thursday as it heads toward the Gulf Coast. The National Weather Service has made its range of online storm predictions and visualizations available on the National Hurricane Center's website. The National Hurricane Center's prediction cone indicates a northeasterly route that shifts northward Thursday night, with a projected landfall between Friday or early Saturday morning, likely between eastern Louisiana and the Florida Panhandle.

Most spaghetti models forecast a Category 1-2 storm, although a few predict strengths between Category 3 and 4, according to the site Cyclocane. It's too soon to pinpoint the hurricane's landfall location, but many spaghetti models suggest a landing zone between Biloxi, Mississippi and Pensacola, Florida. As of 5 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Tropical Storm Isaias boasted 40 mph sustained winds, was traveling east-northeast at 8 mph, and was situated approximately 580 miles from the Mississippi River's mouth.

No coastal watches or warnings are currently in effect. The most recent forecasts, updated frequently, can be monitored online on the National Hurricane Center's website.