Tropical Storm Isaias Is Expected to Slam the Gulf Coast as a ‘Significant Hurricane’ This Weekend

Tropical Storm Isaias, which took shape overnight in the warm waters off the eastern coast of Mexico, is now tracking toward the United States. Forecasters expect the cyclone to rapidly strengthen over the next couple of days before making landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast as the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season.

In a statement issued at 5 a.m. ET today, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said models show Isaias developing an inner core—a precursor to hurricane formation—later…