Hurricane Isaias is expected to make landfall in Florida's Panhandle Friday evening, bringing damaging winds, dangerous storm surge and flooding.

For decades, improving the accuracy of track forecasts for dangerous hurricanes like Isaias plodded along at a slow and steady pace. Improvement in intensity forecasting was even slower.

Strong winds, large waves and storm surge are possible in Orange and San Diego counties, with heavy rain and flash flooding possible in Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Las Vegas and Phoenix.

Isaias has the potential to bring damaging winds, long-duration power outages, flash flooding, deadly storm surge and tornadoes to the coast. Inland areas in Alabama won’t get off that easy, either, and could face power outages, flash flooding and tornadoes as the storm moves northward over the state.

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

Isaias is expected to meander east in the Gulf before taking a northeasterly turn and will likely rapidly intensify, according to the NHC. The storm is expected to make landfall early Saturday morning as a hurricane with winds of 105 mph.

Hurricane Isaias strengthened overnight, and is expected to make landfall within a day. Here are the latest forecasts and NWS advisories for Georgia.