Isaias crashed into the U.S. Gulf Coast on Friday as a dangerous Category 2 hurricane, hammering communities in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle with damaging winds, heavy rain, flooding and life-threatening storm surges.

Hurricane Isaias got stronger overnight and is expected to make landfall near Pensacola late Friday or early Saturday. It was a Category 2 storm overnight with 105 mph winds and could reach Category 3 strength.

Article last updated: Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, 2 a.m. ET

Hurricane Isaias developed late Wednesday as the first Atlantic hurricane of 2026. Its development this late in the year tied a historical record.

The storm arrives at a precarious time for oil markets. Amid strain from the war in Iran, they can’t afford disruptions to production of diesel, the workhorse fuel used by trucks, trains, industry and for heating. A shift westward could bring more offshore production and Gulf Coast energy infrastructure into the storm’s path.

Tropical Storm Isaias was gaining strength in the Gulf on Wednesday and could become 2026’s first Atlantic hurricane on Thursday. The National Hurricane Center has issued hurricane and storm surge watches for the northern Gulf Coast, including Alabama, and said Isaias could peak as a top-end Category 2 hurricane.

Ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Isaias, experts are sharing tips to keep animals and pets, like cats and dogs, safe and secure.

By Daniel Becerril MANZANILLO, Mexico Oct 9 (Reuters) - Hurricane Simon is rapidly intensifying off Mexico's Pacific coast, packing sustained winds of 110 mph (177 kph) as it churns toward a stretch of coastline dotted with beach resorts and fishing towns,