Riviera Maya, Q.R. — Hurricane hunters continue to investigate storm Isaias as it churns off the northern Gulf Coast. The storm, which is expected to continue to intensify as it nears land, gained hurricane status early Thursday morning.
Residents along the Gulf coast are being told to rush-complete preparations today to protect life and property.
According to the NOAA, a storm surge warning is in effect from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Steinhatchee River, FL, while a hurricane warning is in effect from Ocean Springs, MS to the Bay/Gulf County Line, Florida.
The NOAA also says there is a tropical storm warning in effect from Jefferson/Plaquemines Parish Line, LA to west of Ocean Springs, MS to east of Bay/Gulf County Line to Aucilla River, FL and a storm surge watch remains from Steinhatchee River to Yankeetown, Florida.
Hurricane Isaias continues to churn off the Gulf Coast and is forecast to create storm surge and damaging winds as it nears, with current maximum sustained winds of about 80 mph.
Meteorologists say interests in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and elsewhere along the U.S. northern Gulf Coast should closely monitor the progress of Hurricane Isaias. On Thursday, schools in 27 municipalities across the state of Yucatan were closed due to the storm.
Isaias is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches through Thursday across coastal portions of the eastern Bay of Campeche with isolated higher amounts possible in the states of Campeche and western Yucatan.
Hurricane Isaias is currently a category 1 storm, packing maximum sustained winds near 80 mph (130 km/h) with higher gusts, the NOAA reported adding “hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles (30 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km).”
The NOAA says additional strengthening is expected through early Friday, and Isaias should remain a dangerous hurricane as it approaches the northern Gulf Coast Friday night.
Hurricane Isaias could reach a major category 3 status as it continues to intensify, but will weaken before making landfall early Saturday morning. Isaias is the first hurricane to form in the Atlantic during the 2026 hurricane season.
