Hurricane Isaias makes landfall in Florida with 105 mph winds
Hurricane Isaias struck near Destin, Florida, on Friday evening as a Category 2 storm, packing winds of 105 mph. Videos posted on social media showed high winds and heavy rain battering the area, and in Pensacola, a hotel roof appeared to be ripped off. The National Weather Service warned of a life-threatening storm surge from Dauphin Island, Alabama, to Suwannee, Florida, and urged residents to follow advice from local officials. “Extremely dangerous and damaging hurricane-force winds, especially in gusts, are expected over portions of the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama where a Hurricane Warning remains in effect,” the NWS said. Residents were advised to have a safe room and prepare for long-duration power outages.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said around 260,000 customers were without power as the storm made landfall, with outages spanning from Pensacola to Panama City and Tallahassee. Restoration crews would be mobilised after the storm passed. The NWS also cautioned about considerable flash and urban flooding, significant river flooding, and possible landslides across the Southern Appalachians.
