US Alabama Extreme Weather Isaias

Isaias has strengthened into a powerful Category 3 hurricane as it surges toward the U.S. Gulf Coast. The National Hurricane Center says Isaias’ maximum sustained winds have increased to 120 mph. That classifies it as a major hurricane. The first hurricane of the Atlantic season is expected to make landfall near the Alabama-Florida state line Friday night. It threatens to bring strong winds, heavy rains and potentially life-threatening storm surges to the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama and southern Mississippi. Heavy rain and flooding are possible into the weekend as far north as Tennessee and North Carolina.

Isaias has strengthened into a major hurricane as it heads toward the U.S. Gulf Coast. Final preparations are underway for potentially life-threatening storm surges and high winds. Meanwhile, Hurricane Simon is moving toward Mexico’s Pacific coast and has strengthened into a Category 2 storm. U.S. forecasters have issued a hurricane warning for parts of the central and southwest coast, expecting hurricane-force winds within 36 hours. Tropical storm activity has been above average this season in the Pacific due to a strong El Niño. In the Atlantic, El Niño’s winds and the Gulf of Mexico’s warm waters are affecting Isaias's strength.