Hurricane Isaias hits the US Gulf Coast

With wind speeds of up to 165 kilometers per hour, hurricane Isaias made landfall on the coast of the US state of Florida. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) had warned in advance of a "life-threatening storm", heavy rain and flooding. Several US states on the Gulf of Mexico have declared a state of emergency as a precaution. Evacuations had been ordered for several coastal towns.

The hurricane made landfall near the city of Destin late Friday evening local time and was already bringing heavy rain. In Pensacola, around 80 kilometers west of Destin, the strong wind ripped off roofs and tore branches off trees, the AFP news agency reported.

The storm had previously strengthened significantly on its path through the Gulf of Mexico and reached strength three out of five. Before making landfall, however, it weakened and reached the coast as a force two storm.

Power went out in hundreds of thousands of households as a result of the storm. According to the website poweroutage.us, more than 300,000 homes were cut off in Florida and more than 200,000 homes in Alabama.

There were also massive traffic restrictions. The Alabama Emergency Management Agency said roads remained closed in the Houston County area until safe conditions returned. Numerous flights were canceled and shops and schools were closed. In the city of Mobile, Alabama, authorities imposed a nighttime curfew.

First storm of the Atlantic hurricane season

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis urged people to stay safe and be patient while the storm lasts. He assured that rescue and emergency services would begin their work that night for necessary evacuation work. The power supply will also be restored as quickly as possible. Before Isaias arrived, DeSantis had asked citizens to have enough supplies on hand to last at least 72 hours without regular power.

"Isaias" is the first hurricane of this year's season in the Atlantic. Because of the natural climate phenomenon El Niño, the season starts exceptionally late. During El Niño, the water surface in the eastern and central Pacific near the equator warms, affecting wind, air pressure and precipitation worldwide.