Isaias strengthens into the first hurricane of the Atlantic season

The National Hurricane Center said late Wednesday that the hurricane was on track to strike the U.S. Gulf Coast later in the week. It's expected to bring heavy rains and potentially flash flooding.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2278x2242+0+0/resize/2278x2242!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2F77%2F9aa0cdf848b8be594dcf756ab962%2Fap26280555166570.jpg' alt='This satellite image from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Tropical Storm Isaias off the eastern coast of Mexico on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026.'/><p>The National Hurricane Center said late Wednesday that the hurricane was on track to strike the U.S. Gulf Coast later in the week. It's expected to bring heavy rains and potentially flash flooding.</p><p>(Image credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=g-s1-147095' />