At least 4 dead as cyclone Isaias drenches southern US

At least four individuals lost their lives as post-tropical cyclone Isaias swept through the southeastern United States, bringing the threat of flooding and tornadoes in its wake. Isaias made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane near Destin, Florida, on Friday, with sustained winds reaching 165 kph. The storm quickly weakened after landfall, becoming a post-tropical cyclone.

In Mary Esther, a coastal community near Destin, local resident Matt Howard expressed relief that the storm had weakened before making landfall. Despite losing power and a metal shed crashing into his backyard, Howard and his neighbors managed to weather the storm safely, huddling inside their house during the worst of it.

According to officials, at least four deaths were tied to Isaias. Two fatalities occurred when trees fell on homes—one in Pensacola, Florida, and another in Birmingham, Alabama. Widespread damage was reported, with overturned vehicles, downed trees, and power lines littering the streets of coastal areas. Mandatory evacuations were ordered ahead of the storm, and many residents remained stranded without power.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis cautioned residents even after the storm had passed, warning of continued hazards such as downed power lines and standing water. He advised against running generators indoors, citing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The storm caused power outages for over 500,000 customers across Florida, Alabama, and Georgia as of Saturday night. The U.S. Energy Department authorized the release of up to four million barrels of reserve crude oil to help mitigate the impact of Isaias on the Gulf Coast region, which is a major oil refining hub.

As Isaias moved northward, it posed a significant flood threat. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that some areas could receive up to 25 centimeters of rain. The threat was particularly concerning in the Southern Appalachians, where communities are still recovering from the devastating flooding caused by hurricane Helene in 2024, which made landfall in the same region.

El Nino, a historically strong warm phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), played a role in shaping Isaias' path. The phenomenon created strong vertical wind shear over the Atlantic, which typically disrupts storm development. Michael Fischer, a meteorologist from the University of Miami, explained that the Atlantic has experienced near-record strong shear this year due to the El Nino, a common occurrence in El Nino years.