Hurricane Isaias: Warnings Up for the Gulf Coast and Florida Panhandle

Isaias strengthened into a hurricane and was moving toward the northern Gulf Coast Thursday morning, October 8. In its 7 AM CDT advisory, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) put maximum sustained winds near 80 mph, with the center about 385 miles south-southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River, moving east-northeast at 9 mph. NHC expects more strengthening through early Friday and a landfall within the warning area late Friday or early Saturday.

As of that advisory, a Hurricane Warning is in effect from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Bay/Gulf County line in Florida. A Storm Surge Warning covers the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Steinhatchee River, Florida, and a Storm Surge Watch extends from the Steinhatchee River to Yankeetown. Tropical Storm Warnings cover parts of Louisiana and Mississippi, and the Florida coast east of the Bay/Gulf County line to the Aucilla River.

NHC forecasts 3 to 7 inches of rain, with local totals up to 10 inches, from far southeastern Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle from Friday through the weekend. It also forecasts 1 to 3 inches, locally up to 5, across much of the Southeast, with flash, urban, and isolated river flooding possible. Polk County is not inside the current warning areas. For conditions in Lakeland, follow the National Weather Service office in Tampa Bay and Polk County Emergency Management.

If storm rain gets into your home or business, extract the water and start drying fast to limit damage and mold. Florida Restoration Specialists does water extraction and drying in Lakeland and across Polk County. Call (863) 588-6617.

Sources: NHC Hurricane Isaias Intermediate Advisory 7A (7 AM CDT), National Hurricane Center.