**UPDATE — Thursday, October 8, 7:15 AM CT:** NHC Advisory 7a keeps Isaias at hurricane strength — maximum sustained winds 80 miles per hour, central pressure down to 975 millibars, now located 433 miles south of New Orleans, Louisiana, moving east-northeast at 9 miles per hour. Hurricane Warnings and Storm Surge Warnings continue along the Gulf Coast from Louisiana through the Florida Panhandle. Landfall is expected late Friday into early Saturday as a strengthening hurricane. If you are in the warning area, finish your preparations today.

**UPDATE — Thursday, October 8, 6:15 AM CT:** Isaias became a hurricane this morning. The National Hurricane Center's 6 AM advisory shows maximum sustained winds of 80 miles per hour with a central pressure of 979 millibars. The storm is moving east-northeast, and hurricane warnings are in effect for portions of the northern Gulf Coast. Residents in the warning area should rush preparations to completion today — tropical-storm-force winds arrive well ahead of the center.

Gulf Coast — Hurricane Isaias is strengthening in the central Gulf of Mexico and is expected to make landfall late Friday into early Saturday as a hurricane somewhere between coastal Mississippi and the western Florida Panhandle.

What is happening: Isaias is moving east-northeast at about 9 miles per hour with maximum sustained winds near 80 miles per hour. The National Hurricane Center forecasts additional strengthening before landfall. Hurricane Warnings and Storm Surge Warnings are posted from Louisiana through the Florida Panhandle.

Local impacts: Life-threatening storm surge up to 7 feet is possible along the immediate coast. Damaging hurricane-force winds will spread inland near the landfall point. Rainfall of 3 to 6 inches, with isolated totals near 10 inches, could cause flash flooding.

What to do:

- Finish all storm preparations today — do not wait until Friday.

- If local officials order an evacuation, leave immediately.

- If you see water rising around you, get to higher ground immediately.

- Stay away from windows during the worst of the winds.

*Source: National Hurricane Center, Advisory 7a, October 8, 2026. Reported by TNW News.*