Hurricane Isaias forecast to hit Gulf Coast late Friday

Isaias intensified, becoming the first hurricane of the Atlantic season as it approached the U.S. Gulf Coast on Thursday. Landfall was expected late Friday, according to the National Hurricane Center. The Category 1 hurricane had sustained winds of roughly 85 miles per hour, the center said Thursday. Isaias was expected to continue strengthening until early Friday.

Officials predicted dangerous storm surges along the coast, especially in the Florida panhandle and southern Alabama. Waters there could reach up to 7 feet above their normal level if the surge occurred at high tide, according to the hurricane center. The storm was also expected to dump heavy rain across many states, including up to 15 inches in some areas of Florida.

The hurricane center expected Isaias to weaken after reaching land and dissipate over the next few days as it travels northward, though its winds will likely remain strong for a while. The Tennessee River valley and the Carolinas could receive several inches of rain, officials said.