Hurricane Isaias makes landfall on U.S. Gulf Coast as Category 2 storm

Hurricane Isaias made landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast as a Category 2 storm, bringing destructive winds, heavy rain, and a storm surge. According to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), the storm made landfall near Destin, Florida, with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. The storm was located about 50 miles west-northwest of Panama City, Florida.

The hurricane caused widespread power outages, with over 365,000 customers in Florida and Alabama without electricity. According to PowerOutage.us, more than 301,000 customers across Florida were without power, with Escambia County recording the highest number of outages. Florida Power & Light (FPL) and the Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative (CHELCO) said crews were responding to widespread outages.

Authorities issued hurricane warnings and ordered mandatory evacuations in several counties. A curfew was imposed in Mobile, Alabama, and officials warned residents to prepare for power outages and life-threatening storm surges. The storm brought a risk of floods, storm surges, and tornadoes, with water levels expected to rise by 6 to 9 feet in vulnerable coastal areas.

Brief written by urgent.news from CBC News, Hindustan Times - World News, Sky News, Times of India, DW News — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.