Hurricane "Isaias" breaks a record... and a map shows its likely path in America

(CNN) - Hurricane Isaias has broken a previous record by now becoming the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season, and has broken the record for the most recent date of the first hurricane forming in that region.

The previous record was set by Hurricane Gustav (2002) and Hurricane Humberto (2013), both of which formed on September 11.

The wind speeds associated with Hurricane Isaias rose to 105 miles per hour (about 169 kilometers per hour), and the National Hurricane Center expects it to briefly transform into a strong hurricane early Friday morning.

“Strong” means any Category 3 or higher storm, with winds of at least 111 mph.

"Isaias" is the first hurricane that the Atlantic basin has witnessed in nearly a year. Hurricane Melissa was the last hurricane of 2025, and it formed on October 25.

Gulf waters are witnessing record high temperatures for this time of year, which contributes to fueling the storm, but unfavorable weather conditions near the coast are expected to weaken Isaias slightly before it makes landfall on Friday night or early Saturday morning. However, it is still expected to make landfall as a powerful Category 2 hurricane, with winds of 110 mph.