Isaias Strengthens as Gulf Coast Prepares for Possible Impacts

Tropical Storm Isaias strengthened over the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, October 7, as the National Hurricane Center forecast it could become a hurricane and approach the northern Gulf Coast later this week. Its eventual strength, track and landfall location remained uncertain, while officials and energy companies began preparations for possible impacts. At 10 a.m. Wednesday, the storm was about 540 miles south-southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River, moving east-northeast at about 8 mph with maximum sustained winds near 45 mph, the hurricane center said. Forecasters expected it to turn north and approach the coast on Friday. They projected peak winds near 109 mph over the central Gulf in about 48 hours, but cautioned that increasing wind shear near the coast could affect the storm’s strength. The forecast did not establish where or when it would make landfall. Watches were in effect for parts of the northern Gulf region. Mississippi’s coast was under either a tropical storm watch or a hurricane watch by the 10 a.m. update, and parts of the Florida Panhandle were also under watches.