Hurricane Isaias downgraded after making landfall in Florida

Hurricane Isaias, the first of the 2026 Atlantic season, made landfall Friday night along the northern Gulf Coast of Florida, bringing with it heavy rains, powerful winds and the risk of life-threatening flash flooding and storm surges.

Isaias is continuing north across the Southeastern United States after being downgrade from a hurricane to a post-tropical cyclone, the BBC's US partner CBS News reports, external.

Florida, Alabama, and Georgia have each issued states of emergency amid warnings of life-threatening storm surge that could cause up to 9 feet (2.7m) of flooding in some areas.

Isaias is one of three storm systems affecting North America this weekend, with the two others hitting Mexico and Southern California in the El-Niño fuelled warm waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Both Florida and Alabama instituted mandatory evacuations to thousands of people due to the storm.

In Florida, those evacuations include coastal communities in direct aim of the powerful storm. Florida Senator Rick Scott encouraged residents in designated areas to evacuate as soon as possible, as he warned in a social media post: "DO NOT WAIT! Get out NOW!"

Governor of Alabama Kay Ivey issued a mandatory evacuation for all non-residents, tourists and visitors in key counties likely to be heavily affected by the storm.

Hurricane Isaias is the first hurricane in the Atlantic's hurricane season, which largely has been delayed due to El Niño conditions in the Pacific.

It marks the first time in more than 30 years that a hurricane did not form till October.

The storm is likely to bring "life-threatening storm surge" to the US Gulf Coast, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned.

After hitting Florida, the centre of Isaias is forecast to move across Alabama and into the Tennessee Valley on Saturday and Sunday, the National Weather Service said late on Friday.

As of Friday evening, hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from Isaias' centre, and tropical storm-force winds extended as far as 205 miles (335 km).

On Saturday morning, the NHC said all hurricane warnings had been discontinued, while a storm surge warning is in effect for parts of Florida. There is also a tropical storm warning in the state, as well as in east Alabama.

John Guoth, a resident of Navarre, Florida, told the BBC that he and his wife will remain in their home despite the rest of his street having already left.

"It's a hurricane, we get them all the time... we kind of knew that when we moved here," he said.

"Pretty much everything that can fly and will fly is battened down, and everything that cannot fly is really, really secured," he said,

Guoth said he put his ducks and chickens in the bathroom and weighed down his boats and trailers so "nothing flips over".

A few households have remained in the area, describing them as "long-term locals" who are "going to protect our homes".

Pensacola resident Brandin Ruth told the BBC that they have been turning the gas off to the buildings, icing down product and trying to get team members home.

People in the Florida city have "seen bad storms before" but are "bunkering up", he said, adding: "You don't want to underestimate a storm like this".