The Atlantic Has Its First Hurricane of the Season. Here's What To Know

David Schisler and Courtney Head place plywood over the windows of the Islander Ice Cream restaurant as they prepare for the possible arrival of Hurricane Isaias on Oct.

8, 2026 in Gulf Breeze, Fla. —Joe Raedle—Getty Images A storm is heading towards the gulf coast, ending what was a quiet start to the Atlantic hurricane season.

Tropical storm Isaias intensified into a hurricane early Thursday morning—making it the first hurricane four months into the Atlantic season.

Currently a strong Category 2 hurricane, Isaias could reach Category 3 before making landfall sometime in the next two days.

Here’s what to know.

What areas are in Hurricane Isaias’s path? The storm is expected to make landfall along the central Gulf Coast on Friday night or early Saturday, bringing the threat of heavy rain and flash flooding to the regions in its path.

A hurricane warning is currently in place from Ocean Springs, Miss., to the Bay-Gulf County line in Florida.

Some coastal residents of Florida’s Okaloosa County have been put under evacuation order.

Officials have also asked out-of-town visitors to leave the impacted area, and all three county airports are scheduled to close Thursday evening.

Florida Gov.

Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 25 counties in the Panhandle and Big Bend regions.

Alabama Gov.

Kay Ivey also issued a state of emergency for 40 counties.

And the state’s 53rd Annual National Shrimp Festival, set to take place in Gulf Shores, Ala., was cancelled due to the storm.