Flood risk persists after Isaias makes US landfall and weakens

Isaias weakened into a post-tropical cyclone after reaching Florida's coast but continued to bring heavy rain and strong gusts. Forecasters warned of flash-flood risks across the southeastern United States during October 10.

The cyclone made landfall near Destin, Florida, as a hurricane. The National Hurricane Center put sustained winds at about 169 kilometres per hour at that point. The system then moved inland through Alabama.

An early Al Jazeera report recorded more than 664,000 customers without electricity in Florida and Alabama. That was a Saturday-morning snapshot rather than a final impact estimate. Fallen trees and damaged power lines hindered movement and recovery.

Roads in Destin flooded. Pensacola police urged people to avoid streets because of debris, while Alabama authorities reported fallen trees and road closures in Houston County.

Some Florida Panhandle counties temporarily suspended emergency responses on Friday night because conditions were unsafe. The hurricane also disrupted flights, including services at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport.

Florida's National Guard deployed about 5,000 personnel to assist. Search-and-rescue teams were prepared, and inmates were evacuated from some prisons. Federal emergency measures were approved for Florida and Alabama.

Associated Press later reported that storm-surge warnings had been discontinued, while high-wind and heavy-rain threats remained. The cyclone's weakening therefore did not mean hazardous inland weather had ended.

Separately, Rachel and Simon were active in the eastern Pacific. The original report described Simon as a Category 4 hurricane threatening Mexico's Pacific coast. Those systems are separate from Isaias.