Tropical Storm Isaias swirled to life in the southwestern Gulf early Wednesday and has the potential to become the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season.
Storm warnings issued
Update 11:08 a.m. ET Oct. 7: In its 11 a.m. ET advisory, the National Hurricane Center said that Tropical Storm Isaias has strengthened slightly, with maximum sustained winds at 45 mph at its center.
The storm was located about 260 miles west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, and approximately 540 miles south-southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River.
The storm was still moving east-northeast at 8 mph.
A tropical storm watch is in effect from the Jefferson-Plaquemines Parish line in Louisiana to west of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and east of Indian Pass, Florida, to the Aucilla River.
A hurricane watch is in effect from Bay St. Louis to Indian Pass, according to the hurricane center.
A storm surge watch is in effect from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Yankeetown, Florida.
The hurricane center will issue an intermediate advisory at 2 p.m. ET.
Original report: At 5 a.m. ET, the center of the ninth-named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
It was located approximately 285 miles west of Progresso, Mexico, and about 580 miles southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River.
The storm is moving to the east-northeast at 8 mph.
According to the hurricane center, “rapid strengthening” is forecast over the next 48 hours, and Isaias could become a Category 1 hurricane by Thursday as it moves toward the Gulf coast.
Coastal watches or warnings have not been issued but will be when the storm approaches the coast, the hurricane center said.
Residents along the north-central Gulf Coast, from southeastern Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle, should remain on alert as tropical storm conditions could impact the area as early as Friday, WFTV reported.
An advisory is expected to be released at 11 a.m. ET.