Isaias weakens to Category 1 hurricane after Florida landfall, NHC says

Hurricane Isaias has rapidly lost windspeed, weakening into a Category 1 event after making landfall near Destin, Florida, the US National Hurricane Centre said, but warned of danger from storm surges and floods as power links snapped.

The hurricane was about 105 km west-northwest of Panama City, Florida, packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kph, the NHC said in its most recent advisory.

The agency warned against a life-threatening storm surge affecting the Gulf Coast as dangerous hurricane conditions and flash floods spread inland.

The hurricane is expected to cross Alabama and into the Tennessee Valley on the weekend, the agency added.

Nearly 380,000 people in Florida and more than 210,000 in Alabama were left without power as the storm hit shore, the website Poweroutage.us showed.

"Emergency declarations have been approved in Florida and Alabama to ensure federal resources are available to respond to Isaias," Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said on X.

Florida's emergency services urged residents to shelter in place and watch for hurricane conditions across the state's north after Isaias hit land as a category 2 storm.