Hurricane Isaias lashes the US Gulf Coast with wind and rain as it nears the Florida Panhandle

(AP) — Intensifying winds whipped palm trees along the beaches of the Florida Panhandle and Alabama on Friday as Hurricane Isaias swirled just offshore, charging toward the U.S. Gulf Coast.The Category 3 storm weakened only slightly in the afternoon and was on course to arrive in the evening as a major hurricane — and the first hurricane of an unusually quiet Atlantic season.Tracking late Friday afternoon showed landfall would likely take place over the western panhandle near the Pensacola area, said Robbie Berg, a national warning coordinator for the National Hurricane Center.Forecasters warned of a significant storm surge, damaging winds, flooding and possibly even tornadoes before the storm loses steam as it moves inland and delivers strong winds and rain well north into Atlanta.Tropical storm-force winds began to lash the Gulf shoreline around midday, hours before Isaias was expected to come ashore in the low-lying coastal area known for powdery white sand beaches that are dotted with vacation homes, waterfront bars and seafood shacks.A hurricane warning was in place from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the western Florida Panhandle. Several counties announced mandatory evacuations while Mobile, Alabama, imposed a curfew beginning Friday evening until morning.Residents in Panama City, Florida, braved the rain while filling sandbags Friday to protect their houses.“I mean, it’s just the nature of the beast.

It’s Florida," said Corliss Stone, who works for the fire department.Many will brave Isaias at homeOne of the biggest concerns is a storm surge that could be as high as 6 to 9 feet (1.8 to 2.7 meters), according to the hurricane center. Places most at risk include Florida’s Pensacola Beach and the Gulf Islands National Seashore.Anne Petzold, who lives with her husband in the Florida beach community of Gulf Breeze, said everyone in their neighborhood planned to ride out the storm. The couple installed hurricane shutters and picked up anything in their yard that could turn into a projectile.“Everybody does what they can do, everybody asks if they need help — they ask for help, they offer help.

“It’s just another adventure.”Dangerous conditions are expected throughout the western panhandle, southern Alabama and southern Mississippi, the National Hurricane Center said.In a sign of how serious the warnings are, dozens o… Hurricane Isaias, a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds near 120 mph, was forecast to make landfall from 9 to 11 p.m. on Friday near Destin in Florida’s Okaloosa County.

Leer en españolIsaias, the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, was set to impact the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama, and southern Mississippi, according to the National Hurricane Center. It was also increasing the risk of tornadoes in Georgia. The storm was about 145 miles south of Pensacola and about 125 miles east-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River.

It was moving north at 17 mph, according to the NHC.Related story: Hurricane Isaias could nudge fuel prices higher if Gulf of Mexico refineries lose powerThere was a storm surge warning in effect from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Suwannee River, and a storm surge watch in effect for the Suwannee River to Yankeetown. There was a hurricane warning in effect from Ocean Springs in Mississippi to the Bay or Gulf county line in the Florida Panhandle. There was a tropical storm warning in effect for the Jefferson or Plaquimines Parish line in Louisiana to the west of Ocean Springs in the Mississippi’s East of Bay or Gulf County line to the Aucilla River along Florida’s Big Bend.There was a tornado risk forecast to begin late Friday afternoon and continue on Friday night in coastal areas of Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, and far southwest Georgia.

The forecasted landfall is between southern Alabama’s Mobile Bay and the Florida Panhandle’s Choctawhatchee Bay, and the storm surge could be as high as 6 to 9 feet.Related story: Hurricane Isaias poised to strike northern Gulf Coast as first hurricane in 2 yearsAlabama Gov. Kay Ivey ordered evacuations at Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Dauphin Island. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency, deployed about 5,000 National Guard troops, and requested an emergency declaration for federal support.