Storm Isaias leaves 4 dead as it moves across southern US

Storm Isaias has left four people dead as it moves across the southern United States, officials said Saturday. 

What's the latest on the storm? 

Two of the deaths were in Florida, while the other two were in Alabama. 

The storm originally made landfall on Friday evening as a Category 2 hurricane near Destin, Florida. It is the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2026 season. 

Florida, Alabama and Georgia have all declared states of emergency due to the storm. According to PowerOutage.com, over 500,000 customers are without power in Florida and Alabama. 

The Florida Division of Emergency Management said approximately 5,000 Florida National Guard soldiers and airmen have been "activated to support impacted communities."   

The storm brings heavy rainfall and powerfall winds, bringing the risks of flooding and tornadoes. It has ripped the roofs off buildings and downed trees in its wake. 

Storm moving into West Virginia 

The storm has weakened into a post-tropical cyclone and is moving over the southern US states of Tennessee and Kentucky into West Virginia, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).   

In its latest update, the NHC warned of possible flash and urban flooding and said "landslides are possible across the Southern Appalachians." It also warned of wind gusts along with additional power outages and downed trees. 

In addition, swells from Isaias will continue to impact much of the Gulf coasts of the US, Mexico and western Cuba, and are "likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions." NHC said a couple of tornadoes are also possible across eastern Georgia and the Carolinas. 

Meanwhile, Hurricane Simon has hit Category 4 strength as it barrels towards Mexico's Pacific coast, where it is expected to make landfall on Sunday. The storm is expected to impact Puerto Vallarta, a popular destination for American tourists. 

Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko  

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