Is Waffle House closed? As Hurricane Isaias barrels toward Florida and the Gulf Coast, 55 restaurants shut their doors in areas targeted by Category 3 storm.

Hurricane Isaias strengthened into a Category 3 storm with winds of up to 115 mph, with landfall expected Friday evening in Florida’s western Panhandle near the Alabama border.

Isaias has strengthened into the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season, and evacuation guidance has been issued in Alabama and Florida before its expected landfall on Friday night. Isaias is expected to lash the central Gulf Coast and parts of the Southeast with heavy rain and destructive winds,

Power outages are mounting across Alabama as Hurricane Isaias strengthens and barrels toward the northern Gulf Coast, where it is expected to make landfall Friday evening between Mobile and Pensacola,

The National Hurricane Center initiated advisories -- and the all-important track maps -- on Tropical Depression Nine on Tuesday afternoon. Forecasters said the depression could become Tropical Storm Isaias (pronounced ees-ah-EE-ahs) by Wednesday and then the first hurricane of 2026 on Thursday as it tracks northward toward the Gulf Coast.

Once a storm is observed with wind speeds of 111 mph or stronger, the storm reaches Category 3 and is considered to be a "major" hurricane.

Hurricane Isaias is stronger, moving faster and is much larger than it was 24 hours ago. Finish preparations early Friday.

Isaias became a Category 3 storm with sustained winds of 120 mph this morning.