Hurricane Isaias charges towards the US Gulf Coast with dangerous winds

Hurricane Isaias intensified into the Atlantic season's first hurricane as it moved over unusually warm Gulf of Mexico waters and tracked toward the northern U.S. Gulf Coast. The Miami-based National Hurricane Center said the system is expected to make landfall in parts of the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama or southern Mississippi late Friday or early Saturday. Officials warned residents in likely impact areas to complete emergency preparations.

The NHC issued a hurricane watch from Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, through Indian Pass in northwestern Florida, citing risks of torrential rainfall, storm surge and localized flash and urban flooding. Forecasters called for widespread rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches, with isolated amounts up to 10 inches. Heavy rain and flash flooding were also expected to push inland over the weekend, potentially affecting the Tennessee Valley and areas through the southern Appalachian Mountains.

On Thursday morning the storm was producing maximum sustained winds near 130 km/h (80 mph) with higher gusts. Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center, said he expected the system to be "a dangerous hurricane" at landfall, possibly reaching near-major hurricane strength as it moved north of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

Ahead of the storm, energy companies took precautionary measures in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The Marine Minerals Administration reported about 25% of regional oil production had been shut in as of Wednesday, removing roughly 511,000 barrels per day from production, and eight of the Gulf’s 371 manned platforms had been evacuated. Analysts noted the cuts were large enough to have market implications, particularly given already elevated oil prices.

When Isaias was upgraded to a hurricane on Wednesday it became the latest first hurricane of an Atlantic season in 121 years, narrowly missing the record set in 1905. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30.