A tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico was upgraded to Tropical Storm Isaias on October 7, 2026, and the system intensified steadily throughout the day, prompting hurricane watches and storm surge watches for parts of the northern Gulf Coast, the National Hurricane Center reported.
At 4:00 AM CDT, Isaias carried maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and a central pressure of 1004 mb. The storm was centered near latitude 22.0, longitude -94.1, moving east-northeast at 8 mph.
By 10:00 AM CDT, the National Hurricane Center placed Isaias near latitude 22.4, longitude -93.6. Winds had risen to 45 mph and central pressure had fallen to 1000 mb, while the storm maintained its east-northeast track at 8 mph.
NOAA Hurricane Hunters flew into Isaias and observed it gaining strength. The center's 1:00 PM CDT advisory placed the storm near latitude 22.6, longitude -93.4, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and a central pressure of 997 mb. The storm continued moving east-northeast at 8 mph.
Between 4:00 AM and 1:00 PM CDT, central pressure dropped from 1004 mb to 997 mb as winds climbed from 40 mph to 50 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. The agency designated the storm AL092026 and said rapid strengthening was expected within the next two days.