Hurricane Isaias intensifies into Category 3 storm

Hurricane Isaias intensifies into Category 3 storm Categories: Hurricane Isaias Latest Latest Stories News Weather Hurricane Isaias intensifies into Category 3 storm RJ Shepherd, Editor-in-Chief | Oct 9, 2026 RJ Shepherd After the storm formed in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico early Wednesday morning, Hurricane Isaias has intensified to a category 3 storm. Rapidly intensifying overnight over the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Isaias strengthened into a major Category 3 hurricane Friday morning with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.  State emergencies and evacuation orders have swept across the Florida Panhandle with warnings of severe rainfall and hazardous coastal conditions for Northeast Florida, according to official state declarations and updates provided by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Isaias, the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season, is projected to approach the northern Gulf Coast Friday afternoon and make landfall late Friday night or early Saturday morning near the Alabama-Florida state line, according to the NHC. Statewide emergency response underway (Photo Courtesy of NOAA) According to NHC forecasts, life-threatening storm surges up to 9 feet and inland rainfall reaching 15 inches are expected near the storm’s center. “FEMA incident management assistance teams are deploying to Alabama and Florida, and FEMA personnel are embedded in state emergency operations centers,” FEMA said in an official advisory. “The most important decision may be whether to leave, stay put, or avoid travel. That decision depends on local conditions.” In response to the storm’s rapid intensification, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 25 Florida counties, activating state disaster response teams and urban search-and-rescue assets. Federal resources have also mobilized across the Southeast, according to recent FEMA updates. Northeast Florida impacts While Isaias’s eyewall remains west of Jacksonville, the National Weather Service forecast indicates that outer tropical feeder bands will impact Duval County and surrounding areas through Saturday evening. NWS predicts 2 to 4 inches of rain across Jacksonville, with isolated downpours, wind gusts up to 40 mph and a marginal risk of isolated tornadoes embedded within rotating rainbands. Along the Atlantic coast, the storm is generating elevated astronomical tides, high surf, and dangerous rip currents, according to the NWS. Beachgoers and surfers are urged to stay out of the water. What UNF students need to know RJ Shepherd While there are currently no campus closures, students are advised to download the Safe Ospreys app, review emergency plans, avoid flooded roadways, and take severe warnings seriously. University of North Florida students should prepare for wet, gusty conditions and monitor university channels for administrative notices, according to Emergency Management Director Amber Gazdick. “As of now, for our area, I have been directing parents and students to our UNF emergency management page [in the] hurricane preparedness section,” Gazdick stated. Students can monitor official updates from the university via the UNF Emergency Management Crisis portal. Gazdick stated UNF students should also download the Safe Ospreys and JaxReady apps for updates.  Gazdick stated students should remember to “turn around, don’t drown” in light of the heavy rain conditions. “This is a water event for us here locally,” Gazdick stated. “I have been directly in contact with FDEM, the county watch office, and the State University System for all updates and information flow.” The Spinnaker will continue to monitor Hurricane Isaias and provide updates if the forecast track shifts or if UNF announces any operational changes. For more information or news tips, or if you see an error in this story or have any compliments or concerns, contact [email protected]. View Story Comments 0 Like This Story Share on Facebook Email this Story Print this Story Leave a Comment More to Discover More in Hurricane Isaias Tropical Storm Isaias forms in the Gulf: What UNF students need to know More in Latest 'Suits and Sneakers': UNF Athletics hosts 10th annual fundraising bash Lend-A-Wing food pantry sees surge in student visits this fall North Florida earns second place in home contest, makes 26 podium finishes UNF Senate addresses attendance, sustainability and student success More in Latest Stories Hurricane Isaias prompts schedule shifts for UNF teams and Sporting JAX matches The Gay Bar Issue: Queer establishments in Jacksonville at risk of closure How one UNF professor survived a heart condition and began raising money to help others Osprey Ridge construction brings student outdoor spaces, resident concerns About the Contributor RJ Shepherd, Editor-in-Chief RJ Shepherd is Spinnaker’s current Editor-in-Chief. He is a rising senior at UNF, where he is majoring in criminal justice and English.