Isaias Makes Category 2 Landfall Near Destin

Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, Friday evening as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. The storm brought dangerous conditions to the northern Gulf Coast, while forecasters warned that wind, storm surge and flooding threats would continue inland. The center said Isaias crossed the coast at about 9:30 p.m. Eastern time on October 9. It had strengthened to Category 3 earlier Friday, with winds reported near 115 mph, before weakening as it approached land. The different intensity readings reflect conditions at separate points before landfall; the hurricane center reported 105 mph at landfall. The National Hurricane Center warned of life-threatening storm surge along the coast and hurricane-force winds potentially reaching as far as 100 miles inland along the storm’s track. Forecasts called for 4 to 8 inches of rain across parts of the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama and southwest Georgia, with isolated totals up to 15 inches. Heavy rain raised the risk of flash flooding, and forecasters also warned of possible tornadoes.