Hurricane Isaias barrels toward Gulf Coast

• Isaias is forecasted to strengthen into a Category 2 hurricane Thursday. Jackson County is under a Hurricane Watch and is expected to see 5-7 feet of storm surge and upwards of 6 inches of rain.

The 10 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center shows Hurricane Isaias has reached maximum sustained winds of 85 mph as it continues to move east northeast at 10 mph toward the U.S. Gulf Coast.

The Category 1 hurricane is expected to strengthen into a Category 2 later today, with forecasted landfall Friday night into early Saturday morning.

The current track shows Isaias coming ashore near the Alabama-Florida line. However, areas within the cone should stay vigilant as systems have been known to jog east or west in the run up to landfall.

Jackson County remains under a Hurricane Watch while the rest of the Mississippi Coast is under a Tropical Storm Watch.

Peak storm surge in Jackson County is forecasted to be between 5-7 feet. Harrison and Hancock counties could see 3-5 feet.

Rainfall totals in the eastern most parts of Jackson County could exceed 6 inches, with other areas along the coast expecting 1-4 inches.

Areas inland north of the Mississippi Coast and into Tennessee could see 1-4 inches of rain Saturday and into Sunday.

Residents should follow the instructions from their local emergency management officials and stay weather aware throughout the weekend.

Sandbags are available in certain areas, particularly in the lower three counties. Check with county or city officials for locations.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency urges those in the impacted areas to complete all preparations Thursday as storm conditions are expected to begin as early as Friday morning.

MEMA reminds residents to check emergency kits and fill up vehicles with gas as well as check on neighbors and secure outdoor items. Removing yard debris and trim tree branches to prevent wind damage are also recommended.

The Mississippi Insurance Department encourages residents to create a home inventory to make it easier to file a claim after a disaster. A free tool is the NAIC Home Inventory App. It can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play. Take photos and videos of the property and items inside the home to make filing a claim faster.

Residents should also have a “Go Bag” prepared that includes important documents like insurance cards and Social Security cards. Keep copies of these documents in a waterproof container or as a digital image saved online. Consider downloading your insurance company’s app to have your policy information at hand. You should also have a printed or digital copy of your home inventory, cash, medications, a battery-powered radio, and one gallon of drinking water for every family member and pet.

Magnolia Tribune will share information via its social media platforms – Facebook and X – in the hours and days ahead.