Isaias strengthens to become first Atlantic hurricane of 2026 season

Storm expected to make landfall on US’s northern Gulf coast with risk of flash floods and isolated river flooding

Isaias has become the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2026 season, with wind speeds of 80mph and a minimum pressure of 975mb. It is expected to strengthen further into a category 2 hurricane before approaching the US’s northern Gulf coast on Friday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

As a result of the strong El Niño this year, it has been a notably quiet Atlantic hurricane season. In fact, the first hurricane of the season has not formed this late since 8 October 1905, which pre-dates the satellite era (1960s) for tracking hurricanes that has allowed for more non-landfall hurricanes to be discovered.