Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Oct 10: Hurricane Isaias weakened into a post-tropical cyclone on Saturday after rapidly losing wind speed following its landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast as a Category 2 hurricane, the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

The storm made landfall near Destin, Florida, before moving across southern Alabama. In its latest advisory, the NHC said the system was located about 55 miles (89 km) south-southwest of Montgomery, Alabama, with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 kmph).

Isaias was expected to weaken further but continue producing gusty winds well inland before dropping below gale force later on Saturday, the agency said.

The NHC warned of potential storm surges, urban and river flooding, and flash floods across the affected region. Considerable impacts were possible across much of southern Alabama, Florida's Panhandle and parts of southwestern Georgia.

The tornado threat was also expected to persist overnight across the Florida Panhandle and northern Florida into southern Georgia. The risk was forecast to continue on Saturday across parts of the Florida Panhandle, Georgia and the Carolinas.

Alabama's emergency management agency reported that the storm had brought down trees and power lines, making travel hazardous in Houston County, where a flash flood warning was in effect.

“Due to the impacts of Hurricane Isaias, all Houston County roads are closed until further notice,” the county authorities said in a post on X, adding that the closures would remain in place until conditions were considered safe for travel.

US President Donald Trump said the administration was closely monitoring the storm. Asked about hurricane preparations outside the White House, Trump told reporters, “We're watching it very closely, the hurricane,” adding that it was “under control.”

The storm also caused widespread power outages across the two states. More than 430,000 people in Florida and nearly 297,000 in Alabama were without electricity as the hurricane made landfall, according to power outage tracking firm PowerOutage.us.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said emergency declarations had been approved in Florida and Alabama to ensure federal resources were available to respond to the storm.

“Emergency declarations have been approved in Florida and Alabama to ensure federal resources are available to respond to Isaias,” Mullin said in a post on X.

Florida emergency services urged residents in the northern part of the state to remain sheltered and continue monitoring official updates as hazardous weather conditions persisted.

Although Isaias had weakened significantly, authorities continued to warn residents about flooding, falling trees, power disruptions and possible tornadoes as the storm moved inland.