Isaias Could Spawn Tornadoes and Waterspouts Across the Southeast

Forecasters are putting the Southeast on alert for widespread tornadoes and waterspouts this weekend as Isaias makes its way across the region. This is what you need to know if you live in this corner of the country.

Isaias Expected to be a Prolific Tornado Producer

Tropical Storm Isaias formed in the Gulf on Wednesday and is forecast to become a hurricane before making landfall along the Gulf Coast late Friday or early Saturday as a Category 2 storm. Although the point of impact on the Gulf Coast will bear the brunt of what is expected to be the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, what is left of the storm will then roar into the Southeast, bringing along the threat of tornadic activity.

Severe thunderstorms embedded within Isaias' rain bands are likely to be powerful enough to produce waterspouts and tornadoes. The storm's specific structure and surrounding atmospheric conditions often combine to make a tropical weather event a prolific tornado producer. This was last seen in October 2024 when Hurricane Milton generated 45 confirmed tornadoes after coming ashore near Siesta Key, Florida, as a Category 3 storm.

The warm and humid air near ground level within Isaias is expected to encounter a wedge of dry air circulating in the mid-levels of the atmosphere. This merger will support the development of widespread tornadic activity. The greatest threat of twisters will be near and just to the east and southeast of the storm's center.

The timing of the storm as the weekend kicks off could spell trouble for outdoor activities throughout the Southeast and beyond. Notably, number 6 Alabama is scheduled to host number 2 Georgia in a major college football matchup on Saturday at 7:30 pm local time in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. People with plans to attend football games or visit the pumpkin patch will want to pay close attention to the progression of this potentially life-threatening weather maker.