Hurricane Isaias slams Florida Panhandle, but the worst may not be over as dangerous impacts spread inland

DESTIN, Florida – Hurricane Isaias made landfall on the Florida Panhandle just after 9 p.m. ET as a dangerous Category 2 hurricane, unleashing life-threatening storm surge and destructive winds along the northern Gulf Coast — but the threat is far from over.

More than 30 million people across Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Georgia are facing Isaias’ most dangerous impacts as storm surge swamps the Gulf Coast and hurricane conditions and flash flooding spread inland.

WHAT IS STORM SURGE?

Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, around 9:30 p.m. ET, bringing maximum sustained winds of 105 mph and an estimated minimum central pressure of 971 mb.

Isaias widespread impacts will continue long after landfall, as the storm’s remnants spread rain across more than 15 states and bring inland hazards to millions of Americans.

After peaking as a Category 3 hurricane before landfall, Isaias caused more than 500,000 power outages across Alabama and Florida as the northern Gulf Coast was battered Friday evening.

HURRICANE ISAIAS MAKES LANDFALL, UNLEASHING DESTRUCTIVE WINDS AND LIFE-THREATENING FLOODING

After landfall, life-threatening storm surge is forecast to continue along the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend coasts, hurricane-force winds reaching up to 100 miles inland across southern Alabama, and 4 to 8 inches of rain—with locally higher totals—across the Panhandle, southern Alabama, the Big Bend and southwest Georgia, triggering dangerous flash flooding.

The FOX Forecast Center warns that tornadoes could continue into Saturday across eastern Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, Georgia and the Carolinas, particularly within Isaias’ outer rain bands.

KNOW YOUR FLOOD TERMINOLOGY: WHAT FLOOD WATCHES, WARNINGS AND EMERGENCIES REALLY MEAN

Ahead of Friday's landfall, life-threatening flooding triggered a Flash Flood Emergency in Okaloosa County, while dangerous storm surge threatened coastal communities along the Gulf.

THE LATEST FROM FOX WEATHER HURRICANE SPECIALIST BRYAN NORCROSS

Ahead of the storm, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared states of emergency, warning of the ongoing impacts hammering the Gulf Coast states.

After teeing off on the Gulf Coast, Isaias is expected to move inland by late Saturday morning and will continue to bring inches of rain across a wide stretch of the Southeast, including western North Carolina.

7 FACTS TO KNOW ABOUT HURRICANES

Even as Isaias begins to weaken over central Alabama, dangerous wind gusts will continue.

A High Wind Watch is in effect for northern Alabama and southeastern Tennessee, where gusts could reach 50 mph. Along the Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee, upslope winds could exceed 80 mph.

Across the Carolinas, the combination of Isaias and a separate area of low pressure will heighten the flash flood threat.

A Level 2 out of 4 flash flood risk extends from Florida’s Big Bend through the Carolinas, along the Southeast coast and into the Tennessee Valley.

The heaviest rain will be across the Carolinas, where up to 3 to 5 inches of rain will fall from Charleston to Wilmington.

In the Appalachians, an area susceptible to dangerous flooding, as demonstrated by Hurricane Helene, up to 3 inches of rain is possible, with locally higher amounts raising concerns for flash flooding.

HURRICANE ISAIAS COULD REVIVE A NAME TIED TO A DEADLY TORNADO LEGACY

By Sunday, rain will then spread north along the East Coast, where a Level 1 out of 4 flash flood threat exists from northeast North Carolina to Long Island.

Urban flash flooding will be possible, as up to 3 inches of rain may fall.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Most of the rain is expected early Sunday, but lingering showers could persist into Monday morning as Isaias’ far-reaching impacts finally wind down across the eastern U.S.

Stay with FOX Weather as we continue to track this developing story.