Hurricane Isaias is churning in the central Gulf with 80 mph sustained winds, and the forecast calls for a sharp turn north early Friday. Landfall is expected Friday night near Mobile and Pensacola, possibly as a low-end Category 2 before wind shear weakens the storm back to tropical strength. Even if it comes ashore as a tropical storm, surge, high winds, and a tornado threat will stretch across the western Panhandle Friday evening into Saturday.
For the Suncoast, the story is a lot quieter. The storm passes hundreds of miles to our west, so no direct impacts here. What we will notice is the water. Rip currents will be strong at area beaches, conditions get breezy Saturday, and small craft advisories are possible thanks to high tide and rough surf. Swimmers should stay near lifeguard towers, and boaters should check the marine forecast before heading out.
The weekend still looks great for the arts scene and everything happening around Ringling, just plan your beach time with a little extra caution. If you have friends or family near Pensacola or Mobile, now is the time to reach out and make sure they’re ready. Are you changing your weekend plans because of the rough surf? Let us know in the comments.
