
Isaias makes landfall into Panhandle of Florida
By Marcus Chen
ABC 7 Suncoast SWFL
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SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Hurricane Isaias was located about 29.2 degrees north, 87 degrees west at 5 p.m., moving north at 17 mph, according to the advisory.Isaias is expected to come ashore along the western Florida Panhandle coast this evening. The storm’s center is then expected to move across Alabama and into the Tennessee Valley Saturday and Sunday.Top sustained winds are near 115 mph, with higher gusts. That makes Isaias a Category 3 hurricane. Little change in strength is expected before it comes ashore this evening.The storm is expected to start weakening tonight after landfall and is forecast to lose its tropical characteristics by Saturday. Its path is expected to shift north-northeast to northeast on Sunday.Winds of hurricane strength reach up to 35 miles from the storm’s center, while winds of tropical-storm strength reach up to 205 miles out. The storm’s estimated lowest pressure at its center is 959 millibars.A sustained wind of 46 mph with a gust to 58 mph was recorded at