Storm Isaias leaves 4 dead as it moves across southern US

Four individuals have died as Storm Isaias traverses the southern United States, officials reported on Saturday. Two fatalities occurred in Florida, while the remaining two took place in Alabama. The storm initially made landfall in Florida on Friday evening as a Category 2 hurricane near Destin. This marks the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2026 season.

In response to the storm, Florida, Alabama, and Georgia have declared states of emergency. Over half a million customers in Florida and Alabama are currently without power, according to PowerOutage.com. The Florida Division of Emergency Management has mobilized around 5,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen to assist affected communities.

The storm brings with it heavy rainfall, wind, and a heightened risk of flooding and tornadoes. It has caused roofs to be torn off buildings and trees to be uprooted in its path. Currently weakening into a post-tropical cyclone, Isaias is moving across Tennessee, Kentucky, and into West Virginia. The National Hurricane Center has issued warnings for potential flash and urban flooding, landslides in the Southern Appalachians, and additional power outages, downed trees, and wind gusts.

Swells from the storm will continue to impact the Gulf coasts of the US, Mexico, and western Cuba, resulting in dangerous surf and rip current conditions. There is also a possibility of tornadoes across eastern Georgia and the Carolinas. Meanwhile, Hurricane Simon has intensified to Category 4 strength as it heads towards Mexico's Pacific coast, where it is anticipated to make landfall on Sunday, potentially impacting Puerto Vallarta, a popular tourist destination.