Isaias weakens to Category 1 hurricane after Florida landfall, NHC says
USO•Hurricane Isaias weakened to Category 1 after making landfall near Destin, Florida, as a Category 2 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph. More than 412,000 people in Florida and nearly 243,000 in Alabama lost power.
1. Storm crosses the Panhandle
Isaias was about 65 miles west-northwest of Panama City, Florida, as it crossed the western Florida Panhandle, the National Hurricane Center said. The center warned of possible storm surges, urban and river flooding, and flash floods, with considerable impacts likely across southern Alabama, the Florida Panhandle and southwest Georgia.
2. Flooding and outages
The NHC expected Isaias to continue weakening but produce gusty winds well inland through Saturday, even after becoming post-tropical. Alabama authorities said downed trees and power lines made travel hazardous in Houston County, where all roads were closed until conditions were deemed safe. Emergency declarations were approved in Florida and Alabama, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said.
