Hurricane Isaias is taking a somewhat similar track as major Hurricane Michael 8 years ago and will make landfall at almost the same time.
“Let me go ahead and put the worries to rest. This is not a Michael scenario.”
Meteorologist Andrew Wulfeck with the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network says Isaias is not expected to reach major hurricane status for landfall and will come ashore a bit farther west, likely near Pensacola or over the state line in Alabama.
“Michael was a strengthening cyclone as it approached landfall. It made landfall just south of Panama City and as a category 5,” Wulfeck says. “In this case (Isaias), we’re talking about a weakening cyclone. So even though you might see in the news that it will gain strength today, when it approaches land, it’s actually going to start decreasing in wind speed.”
He says Tallahassee and surrounding inland areas will feel most of the effects Saturday morning before sunrise – including heavy rain and tornadoes. Flooding could be a problem since many areas are already saturated from this week’s rainfall.
Wulfeck sees Panama City being on the border between getting nothing from the storm or getting a lot of impacts. Gusty winds and heavy rain will show up Friday along with the tornado threat, high surf, and beach erosion. Storm surge is also a threat.
