Isaias drenches US southeast region as weakened post-tropical cyclone

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, October 11, 2026

Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, as a Category 2 storm before weakening and causing widespread power outages and flooding risks across the southeastern United States. Despite the storm's diminished strength, officials warned of ongoing flood dangers, especially in areas still recovering from previous hurricanes, as meteorologists linked the season's reduced Atlantic activity to a strong El Niño event.

Isaias, which struck the US Gulf Coast as a Category 2 hurricane before weakening to a post-tropical cyclone, brought significant rainfall and power outages to the southeastern United States over the weekend. The storm made landfall near Destin, Florida, late Friday with sustained winds of 105 miles per hour (165 kilometers per hour) before weakening overnight, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

As of Saturday morning, more than 800,000 customers across Florida, Alabama, and Georgia were without electricity, data from PowerOutage.com indicated. Officials reported two storm-related fatalities involving fallen trees—one near Pensacola, Florida, and another in Birmingham, Alabama.

AFP journalists traveling between Pensacola and Destin observed minor structural damage and ongoing power restoration efforts. Streets in coastal towns remained mostly empty following mandatory evacuations ahead of the hurricane. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis highlighted that while Isaias had diminished in strength before landfall, the risk of flooding persisted. “Although the centre of the storm has moved out of Florida, the threat of flooding remains,” he said during a Saturday press briefing. DeSantis also noted that state officials had prepared for a possible Category 3 storm, emphasizing the importance of readiness.

The NHC warned of the potential for heavy rainfall across parts of the southeast, with some areas expected to receive up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain. Flash flooding and landslides remain concerns, particularly in the Southern Appalachian region, including mountain communities in North Carolina. These areas have yet to fully recover from the effects of Hurricane Helene in 2024, which caused extensive rainfall and deadly flooding after passing through the same Florida region as Isaias.

Meteorologists attribute the relatively late arrival of Isaias, as well as the subdued hurricane activity this Atlantic season, to a historically strong El Niño event. The warm phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) generates increased vertical wind shear across the Atlantic basin, which disrupts storm formation and development.

“We have been seeing basically nearly record strong shear throughout the Atlantic Basin this year, and that is consistent with what we’d expect to see with a strong El Niño event,” said Michael Fischer of the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science.

By contrast, El Niño conditions reduce wind shear over the Pacific Ocean, allowing storms there to develop more readily. The Pacific hurricane season this year has produced several intense storms, including multiple hurricanes reaching Category 5 intensity.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.