Isaias has become the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2026 season, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The storm carries wind speeds of 80 mph and a minimum pressure of 975 millibars. NOAA expects it to strengthen to a category 2 hurricane as it approaches the US northern Gulf coast on Friday, bringing a risk of flash floods and isolated river flooding.
The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season has been notably quiet. The Guardian reports that the first hurricane has not formed this late since October 8, 1905, which predates the satellite era of the 1960s. That earlier tracking capability has allowed meteorologists to detect more non-landfall hurricanes in subsequent decades, making the late emergence of Isaias an outlier by modern records.
The Guardian attributes the quiet season to a strong El Niño weather pattern.