Tropical Storm Isaias Forms in Gulf, Forecast to Strengthen Into Hurricane

Tropical Storm Isaias has formed in the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it moves toward the northern Gulf Coast.

According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center, Isaias had maximum sustained winds of 45 miles per hour as of Wednesday morning and was moving east-northeast at about 8 miles per hour.

The storm was located about 260 miles west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, and about 540 miles south-southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River.

The current forecast has the storm passing north of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula on Thursday before approaching the U.S. northern Gulf Coast on Friday.

The National Hurricane Center says rapid strengthening is expected over the next day or two, with Isaias forecast to become a hurricane by Thursday.

If Isaias reaches hurricane strength on Thursday, it could tie a record for the latest first hurricane of an Atlantic season. The record was set in 1905, when the first hurricane of that season formed on October 8.

A Hurricane Watch is now in effect along parts of the northern Gulf Coast, from Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, to Indian Pass, Florida. A Storm Surge Watch has also been issued from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Yankeetown, Florida.

The storm is expected to continue strengthening before reaching the U.S. Gulf Coast, although its exact landfall location remains uncertain.