{"id": "1216948240819191815", "title": "Hurricane Local Statement", "adv_date": "2026-10-08T09:58:00Z", "wmo": "HLSTAE", "msg": "909\nWTUS82 KTAE 080958\nHLSTAE\nALZ065>069-FLZ007>015-027-108-112-114-115-118-127-128-134-326-426-081800-\n\nHurricane Isaias Local Statement Advisory Number 7\nNational Weather Service Tallahassee FL  AL092026\n558 AM EDT Thu Oct 8 2026 /458 AM CDT Thu Oct 8 2026/\n\nThis product covers eastern Florida panhandle, Florida Big Bend, southeastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia\n\n**NEW TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS IN EFFECT FOR INLAND FLORIDA PANHANDLE \nAND LIBERTY, FRANKLIN, WAKULLA COUNTIES. A FLOOD WATCH WAS ISSUED FOR \nMOST OF THE TRI-STATE AREA**\n\nNEW INFORMATION\n---------------\n\n* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:\n    - A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for Central Walton and \n      North Walton\n    - The Tropical Storm Watch has been upgraded to a Tropical Storm \n      Warning for Calhoun, Holmes, Inland Bay, Inland Franklin, \n      Inland Gulf, Inland Wakulla, Jackson, Northern Liberty, \n      Southern Liberty, and Washington\n\n* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:\n    - A Tropical Storm Warning and Hurricane Watch are in effect for \n      Central Walton and North Walton\n    - A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Calhoun, Holmes, \n      Inland Bay, Inland Franklin, Inland Gulf, Inland Wakulla, \n      Jackson, Northern Liberty, Southern Liberty, and Washington\n    - A Storm Surge Warning and Hurricane Warning are in effect for \n      Coastal Bay and South Walton\n    - A Storm Surge Warning and Tropical Storm Warning are in effect \n      for Coastal Franklin, Coastal Gulf, Coastal Jefferson, and \n      Coastal Wakulla\n    - A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for Coastal Taylor\n    - A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for Coastal Dixie\n    - A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Coffee, Dale, Geneva, \n      Henry, and Houston\n\n* STORM INFORMATION:\n    - About 580 miles southwest of Walton Bay county line or about \n      580 miles southwest of Panama City\n    - 23.3N 91.2W\n    - Storm Intensity 80 mph\n    - Movement East-northeast or 60 degrees at 9 mph\n\nSITUATION OVERVIEW\n------------------\n\nAt 5 AM ET, Hurricane Isaias was located in the southern Gulf with \nmaximum sustained winds of 80 mph and moving ENE at 9 mph. There are \noverall no significant changes in the forecast reasoning from the \nprevious advisory. Isaias is forecast to turn northward in the next day\nor so and accelerate in forward speed towards the central Gulf coast. \nAdditional strengthening is anticipated through tonight, and may be \nnear major hurricane strength prior to landfall. The wind field is \nexpected to expand considerably and may be lopsided towards the east, \nwhich means impacts are likely well beyond the forecast cone, \nparticularly east of the hurricane's center. Inland FL counties have \nnow been upgraded from a Tropical Storm Watch to Warning, including \nLiberty, Franklin, and Wakulla Counties. Conditions could begin to \ndeteriorate across the Florida Panhandle as early as Friday morning. \nTherefore, residents are urged to finalize their preparations today and\nearly tomorrow.\n\nGiven the expected large size of Isaias as it nears northern Gulf \ncoast, the wind threat may extend well into the eastern portions of the\nTri-state area. An expected fast forward speed may also lead to the \nwind threat extending further inland, especially near the core of the \nstorm. A Storm Surge Warning remains in effect from the Steinhatchee \nRiver west to the Okaloosa/Walton County line. Life- threatening \ninundation values of 5 to 7 feet above normally dry ground are forecast\nacross the coastal Panhandle to Indian Pass, 4 to 6 feet from Indian \nPass to the Steinhatchee River, and 2 to 4 feet from the Steinhatchee \nRiver to Yankeetown, coincident with the high tide. The greatest surge \nrisk will be Friday through Friday night.\n\nSoggy conditions across the region from recent rainfall will make much\nof the Tri-state area more sensitive to flooding from additional heavy\nrainfall from Isaias. Forecast rainfall totals of 3 to 7 inches is \nexpected across much of the area, with isolated amounts of 10 or more \ninches. If realized, these values are likely to produce isolated to \nscattered flash flooding and some river flooding. Localized \nconsiderable flash flooding is also possible where bands of heavy rain \nmove repeatedly over the same area. Given these factors, a Flood Watch \nwas issued for counties west of the I- 75 corridor and Eastern FL Big \nBend from Friday afternoon until Saturday evening. Isaias will also \nbring an elevated chance for several tornadoes across the Florida \nPanhandle and Western FL Big Bend on Friday into Saturday and Southeast\nAL & Southwest GA late Friday into Saturday.\n\nPOTENTIAL IMPACTS\n-----------------\n\n* FLOODING RAIN:\nProtect against life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible \nextensive impacts across the Florida Panhandle, Southeast Alabama and \nparts of the Western Florida Big Bend & Southwest Georgia. Potential impacts \ninclude:\n    - Major rainfall flooding may prompt many evacuations and rescues.\n    - Rivers and tributaries may rapidly overflow their banks in \n      multiple places. Small streams, creeks, and ditches may become \n      dangerous rivers. Flood control systems and barriers may become \n      stressed.\n    - Flood waters can enter many structures within multiple \n      communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed \n      away. Many places where flood waters may cover escape routes. \n      Streets and parking lots become rivers of moving water with \n      underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become dangerous. \n      Many road and bridge closures with some weakened or washed out.\n\nProtect against dangerous rainfall flooding having possible limited to\nsignificant impacts across the Eastern Florida Big Bend and parts of \nSouth Central Georgia.\n\n* WIND:\nProtect against dangerous wind having possible significant impacts \nacross the Florida Panhandle, Southwestern Florida Big Bend, and \nSoutheast Alabama. Potential impacts in this area include:\n    - Some damage to roofing and siding materials, along with damage \n      to porches, awnings, carports, and sheds. A few buildings \n      experiencing window, door, and garage door failures. Mobile \n      homes damaged, especially if unanchored. Unsecured lightweight \n      objects become dangerous projectiles.\n    - Several large trees snapped or uprooted, but with greater \n      numbers in places where trees are shallow rooted. Several \n      fences and roadway signs blown over.\n    - Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban \n      or heavily wooded places. A few bridges, causeways, and access \n      routes impassable.\n    - Scattered power and communications outages, but more prevalent \n      in areas with above ground lines.\n\nAlso, protect against hazardous wind having possible limited impacts \nacross the Western Florida Big Bend and portions of far Southwestern Georgia.\n\nElsewhere across eastern Florida panhandle, Florida Big Bend, \nsoutheastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia, little to no impact is \nanticipated.\n\n* SURGE:\nProtect against life-threatening surge having possible extensive \nimpacts across the coastal Florida Panhandle and Florida Big Bend. \nPotential impacts in this area include:\n    - Large areas of deep inundation with storm surge flooding \n      accentuated by battering waves. Structural damage to buildings, \n      with several washing away. Damage compounded by floating \n      debris. Locations may be uninhabitable for an extended period.\n    - Large sections of near-shore escape routes and secondary roads \n      washed out or severely flooded. Flood control systems and \n      barriers may become stressed.\n    - Severe beach erosion with significant dune loss.\n    - Major damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers. Many \n      small craft broken away from moorings, especially in \n      unprotected anchorages with some lifted onshore and stranded.\n\nElsewhere across eastern Florida panhandle, Florida Big Bend, \nsoutheastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia, little to no impact is \nanticipated.\n\n* TORNADOES:\nProtect against a dangerous tornado event having possible significant \nimpacts across the Florida Panhandle, Western Florida Big Bend, \nSoutheast Alabama and most of Southwest Georgia. Potential impacts \ninclude:\n    - The occurrence of scattered tornadoes can hinder the execution \n      of emergency plans during tropical events.\n    - Several places may experience tornado damage with a few spots \n      of considerable damage, power loss, and communications failures.\n    - Locations could realize roofs torn off frame houses, mobile \n      homes demolished, boxcars overturned, large trees snapped or \n      uprooted, vehicles tumbled, and small boats tossed about. \n      Dangerous projectiles can add to the toll.\n\nProtect against a tornado event having possible limited impacts across\nthe Eastern Florida Big Bend and parts of South Central Georgia.\n\nPRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS\n----------------------------------\n\n* EVACUATIONS:\nFollow the advice of local officials\n\n* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:\nNow is the time to complete all preparations to protect life and \nproperty in accordance with your emergency plan. Ensure you are in a \nsafe location before the onset of strong winds or possible flooding.\n\nIf you are a visitor, be sure to know the name of the city in which \nyou are staying and the name of the county in which it resides. \nListen for these locations in local news updates. Pay attention for \ninstructions from local authorities.\n\nStorm surge is the leading killer associated with tropical storms and \nhurricanes! Make sure you are in a safe area away from the surge \nzone. Even if you are not in a surge-prone area, you could find \nyourself cutoff by flood waters during and after the storm. Heed \nevacuation orders issued by the local authorities.\n\nRapidly rising flood waters are deadly. If you are in a flood-prone \narea, consider moving to higher ground. Never drive through a flooded \nroadway. Remember, turn around don't drown!\n\nIf a Tornado Warning is issued for your area, be ready to shelter \nquickly, preferably away from windows and in an interior room not \nprone to flooding. If driving, scan the roadside for quick shelter \noptions.\n\nIf in a place that is vulnerable to high wind, such as near large \ntrees, a manufactured home, upper floors of a high-rise building, or \non a boat, consider moving to a safer shelter before the onset of \nstrong winds or flooding.\n\nClosely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather radio or local news outlets \nfor official storm information. Be ready to adapt to possible changes \nto the forecast. Ensure you have multiple ways to receive weather \nwarnings.\n\n* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:\n- For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov\n- For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org\n\nNEXT UPDATE\n-----------\n\nThe next local statement will be issued by the National Weather \nService in Tallahassee FL around 12 PM EDT, or sooner if conditions \nwarrant.\n\n"}