Isaias has become the first hurricane of the Atlantic season and continues to strengthen, now classified as a category three major hurricane. Hurricane hunter aircraft conducting reconnaissance flights on Friday morning documented sustained wind speeds of 120mph (193km/h) as the system moves toward the coast.
The storm is forecast to make landfall on the US Gulf Coast late Friday, bringing destructive winds, heavy rainfall and dangerous storm surge to affected areas. The National Hurricane Center has issued hurricane and storm surge watches for the threatened region.
Why has the Atlantic season been so quiet?
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season has been unusually inactive compared to historical averages, with meteorologists attributing the suppressed activity to the influence of an expanding El Niño pattern. This climate phenomenon has created atmospheric conditions that inhibit tropical cyclone development across the basin, resulting in fewer storms reaching major hurricane status early in the season.
What happens next?
Residents in the Gulf Coast region should monitor official forecasts closely as Isaias approaches. Preparations for potential impacts including power outages, flooding and structural damage should be undertaken in advance of the expected late Friday landfall.
