At least 4 dead as cyclone Isaias drenches southern U.S.

At least 4 dead as cyclone Isaias drenches southern U.S.

In the southeastern United States, four fatalities have been reported as post-tropical cyclone Isaias generated severe flooding and tornado risks on Saturday while advancing northward following its landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast.

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Isaias made landfall on Friday evening as a Category 2 hurricane near the resort town of Destin, with sustained winds reaching 105 miles (165 kilometers) per hour before losing strength overnight.

This storm represents the first hurricane of the Atlantic season influenced by a historic El Niño weather pattern, as well as being the first hurricane to impact the U.S. mainland since 2024.

In the coastal community of Mary Esther, which lies near Destin, resident Matt Howard expressed relief that the storm had weakened prior to making landfall. Despite experiencing a power outage and having a neighbor's metal shed crash into his yard, he remarked, "Overall, we were OK." He added, "We hunkered down, got in the center of our house, and did all the things you're supposed to do, and luckily came out on the other side."

Authorities have confirmed at least four casualties linked to the storm, two of which were the result of trees falling on homes—one incident recorded near Pensacola, Florida, and the other in Birmingham, Alabama.

AFP reporters observed overturned vehicles, downed trees and power lines, and numerous structures suffering roof damage. Streets along the coastline remained mostly deserted after officials ordered mandatory evacuations in anticipation of the storm’s arrival.

In a briefing on Saturday afternoon, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis cautioned that dangers persisted despite the storm having passed. He advised, "Just be careful out there. Downed power lines, standing water, any of that can be very, very hazardous. Don't run any generators inside your home or inside your garage." This warning followed the discovery of a deceased man in Florida earlier in the day, where a generator was reportedly running in his garage, as reported by CNN.

As of Saturday night, approximately 440,000 customers across the U.S. were without electricity as a result of the storm's trajectory through Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, according to PowerOutage.com.

In response to Isaias' impact on the Gulf Coast, which serves as a vital oil refining region, the U.S. Department of Energy authorized the release of up to 4 million barrels (636 million liters) of reserve crude oil.

Flood risks

A significant flood threat remained as the storm continued its northern progression inland. The NHC issued warnings indicating that certain regions could experience rainfall exceeding 10 inches (25 centimeters).

The NHC specifically highlighted the potential for considerable flash flooding and landslides across the Southern Appalachians. This risk is especially concerning for communities in the mountainous areas of North Carolina, which are still recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Helene in 2024. Helene made contact with the same region of Florida as Isaias but maintained tropical storm strength as it moved northward, resulting in record rainfall and deadly flooding in the mountains.

Isaias' late-season arrival can largely be attributed to the effects of a historically strong El Niño. This phenomenon, known as the warm phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), generates strong vertical wind shear over the Atlantic, which typically disrupts hurricane formation.

Michael Fischer from the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science explained, "We have been seeing basically nearly record strong shear throughout the Atlantic basin this year, and that is consistent with what we'd expect to see with a strong El Niño event."

Conversely, in the Pacific region, the phenomenon has the opposite effect, reducing wind shear and allowing storms to develop. This year, the Pacific has already experienced several hurricanes, with some reaching maximum Category 5 strength.

As of Saturday, Mexico's Baja California and the adjacent U.S. state of California were preparing for the arrival of the weakening post-tropical cyclone Rachel, expected to make landfall later that day. Additionally, the considerably stronger Hurricane Simon was predicted to hit western Mexico on Sunday.