Adnkronos (Adnkronos) –
Hurricane Isaias continues to strengthen as it approaches the U.S. coast. According to the latest National Hurricane Center bulletin, it has reached sustained winds of approximately 80 mph (130 km/h), with a minimum pressure of 979 millibars (mbar), and is moving northeast at approximately 9 mph (15 km/h). Forecasters expect further intensification in the coming hours.
It is expected to make landfall on the northern Gulf Coast between Friday evening and early Saturday, in the area between Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.
The National Hurricane Center urged the public to quickly complete protective measures against storm surge and very strong winds.
Warnings have already been issued in several areas: evacuations have been ordered in some Florida counties, while several schools in Florida and Alabama have announced closures ahead of the storm's arrival.
The Gulf energy sector has also been affected by the emergency: Shell and Chevron have reduced their offshore activities and evacuated some of their staff.
Isaias could thus become the first hurricane to make landfall in the United States since 2024, when Hurricane Milton hit Florida as a Category 3.
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