Tropical storm Hurricane Isaias: Warnings, areas affected, road blocks, safety places

Hurricane Isaias is getting stronger in the Gulf, and the northern Gulf Coast is now getting ready for a rough couple of days. The storm is expected to reach the coast late Friday or early Saturday. Coastal Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle are among the areas that could take the biggest hit.

Where are the Hurricane Isaias warnings

The National Hurricane Center said in its 4 a.m. Thursday update that Isaias had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph. It was moving east-northeast at 9 mph. It was expected to turn northeast, then north, as it moved closer to the coast. Hurricane Warnings and Storm Surge Warnings are already in place along parts of the Gulf Coast. The Hurricane Warning covers the coast from Ocean Springs, Mississippi to the Bay/Gulf County line in Florida. The Storm Surge Warning runs from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Steinhatchee River, in Florida.




Coastal Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle are among the areas under the warnings. The National Weather Service office in Mobile/Pensacola has warnings covering parts of Mobile and Baldwin counties, as well as Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties.

There is still some uncertainty over exactly where Isaias will come ashore. The current forecast has the storm reaching the northern Gulf Coast late Friday or early Saturday. Numbers look serious. Storm surge could reach five to seven feet in some areas. Rainfall could reach three to seven inches with some spots getting, up to ten inches.

What could happen to roads and which areas face the biggest risks

The weather along the coast is expected to change quickly on Friday. Rain will spread in, winds will get stronger and water levels will rise. That could lead to flooding on roads, in low-lying neighborhoods and around underpasses. Creeks and drainage systems could also struggle with the amount of rain.

Driving could become a big problem in such a situation. Flooded roads may become impassable while trees and other debris could block roads. Residents are advised not to drive through flooded roads, as it may look shallow when it is actually not, and the road underneath could be damaged.

Wind damage is another concern. The strongest winds will be close to the hurricane's center, but gusts will reach farther inland. Trees could fall, power lines could come down and some communities could lose power for an extended period.

The forecast also calls for wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph across parts of central and northern Alabama, northern Georgia and northeast Mississippi on Saturday. Those winds are not expected to be as strong as those near the coast, but they could still cause isolated to scattered power outages.



Tornadoes are possible too. The risk is expected to increase Friday night and into early Saturday, with the threat continuing farther inland on Saturday across parts of Alabama, Georgia and northern Florida.

The coast itself will become dangerous before the hurricane arrives. Large waves and strong rip currents are expected along Alabama and northwest Florida. People should stay out of the Gulf while conditions are dangerous.

For people who live in areas Thursday is the full day to get everything ready. Things, like furniture, grills, trash cans and other items that can move should be brought inside on time. Emergency supplies need to be looked at phones and extra batteries should be charged and cars need to have gas to handle the difficult situation.

Residents should also know their evacuation zone and where they would go if they need to leave. If officials issue an evacuation order it should be followed of waiting for conditions to get worse.

A tornado safe place should be picked out ahead of time. A small interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, away from windows, is generally the safest choice.

It is also important to have more than one way to get weather warnings, including emergency alerts and NOAA Weather Radio.

Anyone using a generator needs to keep it outside. It should never be used inside a house, garage or another enclosed space because of the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning.



Dallas and the wider DFW area are not expected to see severe weather from Isaias. High pressure will keep the region dry, with sunshine expected through the weekend and into early next week. Mornings should remain comfortable, with temperatures in the 60s. By afternoon, it will be much warmer, with highs around 90 degrees.

The information is taken from reports by The Weather Channel and Fox10 News.