The National Hurricane Center projected Tropical Storm Isaias will intensify rapidly into near-major hurricane strength before crossing the Gulf Coast, according to Forecast Advisory Number 3 issued at 0900 UTC on October 7, 2026.
The storm's center was located near 22.0°N, 94.1°W in the Gulf of Mexico at the time of the advisory, accurate to within 30 nautical miles, the center said. Isaias was moving east-northeast at 7 knots, carrying maximum sustained winds of 35 knots with gusts to 45 knots and a minimum central pressure of 1004 millibars.
The National Hurricane Center's forecast track shows winds climbing to 65 knots by 0600 UTC on October 8, then reaching 95 knots, with gusts to 115 knots, by 0600 UTC on October 9. Winds were projected to ease slightly to 90 knots by 1800 UTC on October 9 as the storm approached the coast, then drop to 75 knots with gusts to 90 knots after the center moved inland near 30.8°N, 87.7°W around 0600 UTC on October 10, 2026.
Isaias was forecast to become post-tropical by 0600 UTC on October 11, 2026, with winds down to 25 knots, and to dissipate entirely by 0600 UTC on October 12, 2026. The center noted that average track errors run near 125 nautical miles on day 4 and 175 nautical miles on day 5, with average intensity errors of about 15 knots on both days. Ships within 300 nautical miles of the storm's position were asked to submit 3-hourly reports. The advisory was prepared by forecaster Papin, with the next update scheduled for 1500 UTC on October 7, 2026.