Hurricane Isaias strengthens as US Gulf Coast prepares for landfall
USO•Hurricane Isaias strengthened with 85 mph winds and was forecast to approach Category 3 strength before reaching the northern Gulf Coast late Friday or early Saturday. Producers had shut in about 25.08% of current Gulf oil production and 16.37% of natural gas production as of Wednesday.
1. Storm approaches Gulf Coast
Isaias was moving east-northeast at 10 mph, about 380 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River on Thursday morning. Forecasters expected winds to reach about 110 mph on Friday and warned of dangerous storm surge, flooding and tornadoes.
2. Energy production disrupted
Energy companies evacuated offshore platforms and curtailed operations. About 25.08% of current Gulf of Mexico oil production and 16.37% of natural gas production had been shut in as of Wednesday.
3. Evacuations and warnings
Florida ordered mandatory evacuations for coastal areas of Okaloosa County, and Alabama declared an emergency covering 40 counties. Hurricane warnings extended from coastal Mississippi through Alabama to the Florida panhandle; storm surges could reach 5 to 7 feet in the hardest-hit areas.
