Isaias Updates

Latest forecast:

Isaias continues to strengthen and is now a category 2 Hurricane with winds at 100 mph. Isaias is moving northeast at 12mph. A turn to the north is expected by Friday. Lee county remains under a Tropical Storm Watch, but as confidence increases we will likely see that upgraded to a Tropical Storm Warning.

Timing and impacts for the Auburn University Community:

• Friday morning: Quiet start to the day. Clouds increasing, but staying rain-free.
• Friday afternoon–evening: Outer rain bands arrive; conditions begin to deteriorate Friday afternoon. 
• Friday night–Saturday morning: Land fall occurs near midnight. The heaviest rain and strongest winds anticipated after 7pm Friday to 3am Saturday.
• Saturday afternoon: Improving as Isaias pulls north and away. Rain chances begin to deminish substantially by late morning into early afternoon, however, there will be a couple late arriving bands that could produce short-lived, spin up tornadoes Saturday afternoon. 

What to expect:

• Heavy rain: 2-4 inches possible, with localized pockets of heavy rain. This will be a long duration rain event. 
• Wind:The wind threat could reach 39+ mph across south Alabama, including the Auburn area. Gusts possible above 50 mph.
• Tornadoes: Tropical systems can produce brief, fast-forming tornadoes.  There is higher confidence that Lee County could face a tornado risk through Saturday afternoon.  Have multiple ways to receive weather alerts. 

 What you should do now:

• Make sure you're signed up for AU Alert and have a weather radio or Auburn University app with notifications turned on.
• Download the Auburn Weather app for current conditions and hour by hour forecasts.
• Charge phones and power banks; have flashlights ready.
• Secure loose outdoor items Thursday.
• Know where you'll shelter if a tornado warning is issued: lowest floor, interior room, away from windows.
• Never drive through flooded roads.

Fall Break Beach Goers:

• Coastal Alabama and the northwest Florida Panhandle are under a Hurricane Warning and Storm Surge Warning.
• Damaging winds, life-threatening storm surge, flash flooding, tornadoes, high surf and dangerous rip currents are possible.
• Storm surge of 5-7 feet is possible along portions of the coast Friday afternoon through Saturday morning.
• A high risk of rip currents will continue through the weekend.
• Surf could exceed 20 feet near and east of the storm's track.
• If traveling to the coast, closely monitor local forecasts and heed instructions from local officials.

Next update: Thursday, October 9, 2026, 8:00 a.m. (CT)

Latest forecast: Isaias remains a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds at 85 mph. The storm is accelerating as it nears the Gulf coast and some strengthening is still anticpated to occur just before landfall. Lee county is now under a Tropical Storm Watch.

Timing and impacts for the Auburn University Community:

• Today: Dry Thursday. Prep window for campus and residents.
• Friday afternoon–evening: Outer rain bands arrive; conditions begin to deteriorate Friday afternoon. 
• Friday night–Saturday morning: Land fall occurs near midnight. The heaviest rain and strongest winds anticipated between 9pm Friday to 3am Saturday.
• Saturday afternoon: Improving as Isaias pulls north and away. Rain chances begin to deminish substantially by late morning into early afternoon, however, there will be a couple late arriving bands that could produce short-lived, spin up tornadoes Saturday afternoon. 

What to expect:

• Heavy rain: 2-4 inches possible, with localized pockets of heavy rain. This will be a long duration rain event. 
• Wind:The wind threat could reach 39+ mph across south Alabama, including the Auburn area. Gusts possible above 50 mph.
• Tornadoes: Tropical systems can produce brief, fast-forming tornadoes.  There is higher confidence that Lee County could face a tornado risk through Saturday afternoon.  Have multiple ways to receive weather alerts. 

What you should do now:

• Make sure you're signed up for AU Alert and have a weather radio or Auburn University app with notifications turned on.
• Download the Auburn Weather app for current conditions and hour by hour forecasts.
• Charge phones and power banks; have flashlights ready.
• Secure loose outdoor items Thursday.
• Know where you'll shelter if a tornado warning is issued: lowest floor, interior room, away from windows.
• Never drive through flooded roads.

Fall Break Beach Goers:

• Coastal Alabama and the northwest Florida Panhandle are under a Hurricane Warning and Storm Surge Warning.
• Damaging winds, life-threatening storm surge, flash flooding, tornadoes, high surf and dangerous rip currents are possible.
• Storm surge of 5-7 feet is possible along portions of the coast Friday afternoon through Saturday morning.
• A high risk of rip currents will continue through the weekend.
• Surf could exceed 20 feet near and east of the storm's track.
• If traveling to the coast, closely monitor local forecasts and heed instructions from local officials.

Next update: Thursday, October 8, 2026, 2:00 p.m. (CT)

Latest forecast: Isaias strengthened overnight to a hurricane with sustained winds at 80 mph, becoming the first hurricane of 2026. Auburn should prepare for heavy rain, gusty winds and a tornado threat Friday evening into Saturday. The storm is accelerating as it nears the Gulf coast.

Timing and impacts for the Auburn University Community:

• Today: Dry for most of the day. Prep window for campus and residents.
• Friday afternoon–evening: Outer rain bands arrive; conditions begin to deteriorate Friday afternoon. 
• Friday night–Saturday morning: Land fall occurs near midnight. Peak impacts in Auburn. Heaviest rain and strongest winds between 9pm Friday to 3am Saturday.
• Saturday afternoon: Improving as Isaias pulls north and away. Rain chances begin to deminish substantially by late morning into early afternoon, however, there will be a couple late arriving bands that could produce short-lived, spin up tornadoes Saturday afternoon. 

What to expect:

• Heavy rain: 1-3 inches possible, with localized flash flooding.
• Wind: Sustained 15-20 mph with gusts of 30-40 mph possible. 
• Tornadoes: Tropical systems can produce brief, fast-forming tornadoes.  If Isaias tracks along or west of the Alabama coast, Lee County could face an increased risk Friday night.  Have multiple ways to receive weather alerts, especially overnight. 

Forecast uncertainty:

Model guidance remains split on the exact track, and the National Hurricane Center has nudged its forecast slightly east. The stronger, faster solutions are on the eastern side of the guidance, which would bring higher wind and tornado risk closer to Auburn. Details will sharpen over the next 24–36 hours, so check back for updates.

What you should do now:

• Make sure you're signed up for AU Alert and have a weather radio or Auburn University app with notifications turned on.
• Download the Auburn Weather app for current conditions and hour by hour forecasts.
• Charge phones and power banks; have flashlights ready.
• Secure loose outdoor items Thursday.
• Know where you'll shelter if a tornado warning is issued: lowest floor, interior room, away from windows.
• Never drive through flooded roads.

Fall Break Beach Goers:

• Coastal Alabama and the northwest Florida Panhandle are under a Hurricane Watch and Storm Surge Watch.
• Damaging winds, life-threatening storm surge, flash flooding, tornadoes, high surf and dangerous rip currents are possible.
• Storm surge of 5-7 feet is possible along portions of the coast Friday afternoon through Saturday morning.
• A high risk of rip currents will continue through the weekend.
• Surf could exceed 20 feet near and east of the storm's track.
• If traveling to the coast, closely monitor local forecasts and heed instructions from local officials.

Next update: Thursday, October 8, 2026, 11:00 a.m. (CT)

Latest forecast: Tropical Storm Isaias is now strengthening and will likely become a hurricane within the next 24 hours. Because the storm will be moving quickly and growing in size, impacts will reach well inland. Auburn should prepare for heavy rain, gusty winds and a low end tornado threat Friday evening into Saturday.

Timing and impacts for the Auburn University Community: No Changes From Previous Forecast 

Forecast uncertainty:

Some model uncertainties still exist in regards to timing, intensity, and exact track, so refinements to this forecast are likely.

What you should do now:

• Make sure you're signed up for AU Alert and have a weather radio or Auburn University app with notifications turned on.
• Download the Auburn Weather app for current conditions and hour by hour forecasts.
• Charge phones and power banks; have flashlights ready.
• Secure loose outdoor items Thursday.
• Know where you'll shelter if a tornado warning is issued: lowest floor, interior room, away from windows.
• Never drive through flooded roads.

Fall Break Beach Goers:

• Coastal Alabama and the northwest Florida Panhandle are under a Hurricane Watch and Storm Surge Watch.
• Damaging winds, life-threatening storm surge, flash flooding, tornadoes, high surf and dangerous rip currents are possible.
• Storm surge of 5-7 feet is possible along portions of the coast Friday afternoon through Saturday morning.
• A high risk of rip currents will continue through the weekend.
• Surf could exceed 20 feet near and east of the storm's track.
• If traveling to the coast, closely monitor local forecasts and heed instructions from local officials.

Next update: Thursday, October 8, 2026, 8:00 a.m.

Latest forecast: Tropical Storm Isaias is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane before reaching the northern Gulf Coast Friday afternoon. Because the storm will be moving quickly and growing in size, impacts will reach well inland. Auburn should prepare for heavy rain, gusty winds and a low end tornado threat Friday evening into Saturday.

Timing and impacts for the Auburn University Community:

• Thursday: Dry for most of the day. Prep window for campus and residents.
• Friday afternoon–evening: Outer rain bands arrive; conditions begin to deteriorate Friday afternoon.
• Friday night–Saturday morning: Peak impacts in Auburn. Heaviest rain and strongest winds.
• Saturday afternoon: Improving as Isaias pulls north and away. Rain chances begin to deminish substantially by late morning into early afternoon.

What to expect:

• Heavy rain: 2-4 inches possible, with localized flash flooding in low-lying areas.
• Wind: Sustained 15-20 mph with gusts of 30-40 mph possible. 
• Tornadoes: Tropical systems can produce brief, fast-forming tornadoes.  If Isaias tracks along or west of the Alabama coast, Lee County could face an increased risk Friday night.  Have multiple ways to receive weather alerts, especially overnight. 

Forecast uncertainty:

Model guidance remains split on the exact track, and the National Hurricane Center has nudged its forecast slightly east. The stronger, faster solutions are on the eastern side of the guidance, which would bring higher wind and tornado risk closer to Auburn. Details will sharpen over the next 24–36 hours, so check back for updates.

What you should do now:

• Make sure you're signed up for AU Alert and have a weather radio or Auburn University app with notifications turned on.
• Download the Auburn Weather app for current conditions and hour by hour forecasts.
• Charge phones and power banks; have flashlights ready.
• Secure loose outdoor items Thursday.
• Know where you'll shelter if a tornado warning is issued: lowest floor, interior room, away from windows.
• Never drive through flooded roads.

Fall Break Beach Goers:

• Coastal Alabama and the northwest Florida Panhandle are under a Hurricane Watch and Storm Surge Watch.
• Damaging winds, life-threatening storm surge, flash flooding, tornadoes, high surf and dangerous rip currents are possible.
• Storm surge of 5-7 feet is possible along portions of the coast Friday afternoon through Saturday morning.
• A high risk of rip currents will continue through the weekend.
• Surf could exceed 20 feet near and east of the storm's track.
• If traveling to the coast, closely monitor local forecasts and heed instructions from local officials.

Next update: Wednesday, October 7, 2026, 5:00 p.m. (CT)