Post-Tropical Cyclone Isaias
Post-Tropical Cyclone Isaias is currently located near Birmingham, Alabama, moving north-northeast at 15 mph with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph. As it continues its path through the Southeast US, flood watches and a high wind warning are in effect for the Southern Appalachians, and a wind advisory is active for parts of the Mid-South. The system is expected to bring 3 to 6 inches of rain, with isolated totals reaching 10 inches, across the Southern Appalachians and into the Carolinas.
This rainfall may result in flash flooding, urban and river flooding, and even landslides, particularly in the Southern Appalachians. The western Florida Panhandle is experiencing significant river flooding, expected to peak through Sunday. A couple of tornadoes may develop in eastern Georgia and the Carolinas. Strong wind gusts remain a threat, causing scattered power outages and downed trees, especially in elevated terrain.
Swells produced by Isaias are impacting the Gulf coasts of the US, Mexico, and Western Cuba, leading to life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. The next advisory will be issued at 10:00 PM CDT.
Hurricane Isaias, which initially made landfall as a formidable Category 1 storm, has begun to weaken as it moves inland, transitioning into a tropical storm. Despite its reduced strength, Isaias has caused significant damage in various areas along its path, ripping roofs off buildings and demolishing signs. Videos capturing the ferocity of the storm depict powerful winds and heavy rainfall battering communities, with emergency services working tirelessly to address the impacts. Unfortunately, the storm has already resulted in two reported fatalities, highlighting the dangerous conditions it has caused.
As Isaias progresses further inland, states such as Kentucky are bracing for the remnants of the storm, with local meteorologists declaring a First Alert Weather Day in response to the continuing threat. The focus has now shifted to managing flooding risks and power outages, with local authorities urging residents to stay informed and take necessary precautions. While the storm's intensity has waned, its potential for widespread disruption remains a cause for concern. Communities are encouraged to remain vigilant as the storm passes through, bringing with it the risk of localized flooding and damaging winds.
October 10, 2026, at 1:00 PM EDT
This weather discussion highlights active tropical waves, one in the eastern Atlantic along 35W causing scattered moderate to strong convection, and the other in the western Caribbean producing scattered moderate convection. In the Gulf of America, post-tropical cyclone Isaias is moving northward over Alabama, with a cold front extending across the central Gulf. This is causing showers, thunderstorms, and strong winds with rough seas that are expected to subside. The remnants of Isaias will move north, with cooler air and a cold front developing and moving across the southeast Gulf through midweek.
In the Caribbean Sea, a modest pressure gradient supports moderate to fresh easterly winds, with stronger winds off Colombia. These conditions are expected to diminish midweek as high pressure shifts eastward. The Atlantic Ocean features a cold front and stationary front creating scattered showers and thunderstorms with moderate to fresh winds. High pressure near the Azores causes moderate to strong NE to E winds and significant wave heights. A cold front is projected to move east, with another entering from NE Florida, affecting weather up to early in the week.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has forecasted an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season for 2025.
Named Storms: 8 to 14
Hurricanes: 3 to 6
Major Hurricanes (Category 3 or higher): 1 to 3
Accumulate Cyclone Energy (ACE): 95% to 180% of the median
Primary Influencing Factor: Developing El Niño conditions expected to suppress Atlantic storm activity
This forecast indicates:
Despite the lower forecast, NOAA emphasizes that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to create a major disaster, and residents in hurricane-prone areas should still prepare as usual for the season.
Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30Key: Active Past Future
*Press/click the storm name to view additional detailsDespite fewer total storms than forecasted, the 2025 season produced several extremely intense hurricanes, including three Category 5 systems, making it one of the more powerful Atlantic seasons in recent history.
2020 - 30 named storms, 14 hurricanes
Hurricane Katrina (2005) - $125 billion
Harvey (2017) - $125 billion
Hurricane Patricia (2015) - 215 mph (345 km/h)
Hurricane Allen (1980) - 190 mph (305 km/h)
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating system that classifies hurricanes based on their sustained wind speeds and the potential damage they can cause. It helps communicate the intensity of hurricanes and the likely impacts on structures and environments. The scale does not account for factors like storm surge or rainfall, focusing only on wind speeds.
Watching the Tropics was originally built as a personal storm tracker with only the most important charts for the Atlantic hurricane basin. Numerous sites are available for tracking hurricanes, but Watching the Tropics minimizes extra "noise" and shows only what you need.
Designed in Florida by
"Watching the tropics" refers to monitoring tropical weather systems, such as tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes, in regions close to the equator. Meteorologists and weather enthusiasts often use this phrase during hurricane season to indicate that they're keeping an eye on developing weather systems that could potentially strengthen and impact areas like the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic Ocean.
Websites, news outlets, or weather services also use "Tropics Watch" to keep the public informed about the latest developments in the tropics, especially during peak hurricane season.
An "invest" refers to an area of disturbed weather that meteorologists are investigating for potential tropical development. The term "invest" is short for "investigation area."
When an area is designated as an invest, it is given a number (between 90 and 99) followed by the letter "L" for systems in the North Atlantic or "E" for systems in the Eastern Pacific. For example, "Invest 91L" would refer to the 91st area of interest in the Atlantic basin for that season.
The designation of an invest allows meteorologists to focus their resources on a specific area, utilize specialized forecasting models, and issue updates as needed.
A tropical depression is a type of tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of less than 39 mph (34 knots or 63 km/h).
Key characteristics:
It's the first stage of development in the tropical cyclone classification used by the National Hurricane Center, followed by tropical storm and then hurricane.
