Isaias Nears Florida Panhandle Landfall

Hurricane Isaias neared landfall in Florida’s western Panhandle near Pensacola with sustained winds around 110 mph, after briefly reaching Category 3; the earlier forecast had placed landfall near the Alabama-Florida border. Forecasters warned of damaging winds, storm surge of 5 to 9 feet, heavy rain and possible tornadoes, and officials issued evacuations and warnings and mobilized emergency supplies, National Guard troops and utility crews. Isaias was expected to weaken as it moved across Alabama and northward, bringing gusty winds and possible power outages to parts of Mississippi, then rain and minor coastal-flooding concerns to New York City. Forecasts differed, with experimental AI systems favoring a track farther east toward Pensacola than traditional weather models.