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The state of Alabama declared an emergency and two counties in northern Florida issued evacuation orders ahead of the strengthening of Hurricane Isaias, which could impact the southern United States on Friday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported this Thursday.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey declared an emergency for 40 counties, adding to the one from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who issued a similar order for 25 counties, two of which, Gulf and Okaloosa, have requested the evacuation of areas at risk from the cyclone, which was a Category 1 on Thursday morning.
The Florida Sheriffs Association warned of a storm surge that could reach 7 feet (2.1 meters) in height, in addition to indicating that "flooding will also be a cause for concern in the Florida Panhandle."
"If you are in a low-lying area or near the coast, please follow the local sheriff's office social media to stay updated on evacuation orders. Today is the last day to safely finalize your plan," the organization noted on its social media.
Isaias became the first hurricane of the Atlantic season on Wednesday night, which until now had recorded record-low activity due to the El Niño phenomenon, which implies warmer-than-usual waters in the Pacific but fewer cyclones in the Atlantic.
The meteorological phenomenon was, in the last NHC report, 175 miles (280 kilometers) northeast of Progreso, Mexico, and 385 miles (620 kilometers) southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River, in the United States, with maximum sustained winds of 80 miles per hour (130 kilometers per hour).
"Isaias will bring areas of heavy rain to the central U.S. Gulf Coast and much of the Southeast from Friday through the weekend. Flash and urban flooding will be possible, as well as isolated river flooding," the report noted.
The meteorological agency warned of "damaging hurricane-force winds" over parts of the Panhandle, a region in the northwest of Florida, and in Alabama and Mississippi.
In addition, the NHC anticipated potential effects in other states, such as Louisiana, Tennessee, and the Carolinas, where "flash and urban flooding will be possible, as well as isolated river flooding."
[Publicidad]