Tropical Storm Isaias forecast to hit US Gulf coast as hurricane early Saturday

Tropical Storm Isaias is expected to intensify into a hurricane and hit the US Gulf coast early Saturday, according to the National Hurricane Centre (NHC). The storm, which formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, could bring heavy rain, storm surges, and tornadoes to several states, affecting oil and gas production and refining facilities.

Michael Brennan, NHC director, warned that Isaias could be a Category 3 or higher hurricane when it makes landfall, posing multiple life-threatening impacts. This would be the first hurricane of the Atlantic season and could tie the record for the latest first hurricane with one on October 8, 1905. The storm could disrupt about 11.2 million barrels of oil production in the Gulf, a significant increase from the 7.1 million barrels impacted by Tropical Storm Bertha in July.

Isaias is forecast to develop into a hurricane by Thursday and make landfall early on Saturday, most likely along the Mississippi, Alabama, or Florida Panhandle coast.