The National Hurricane Center initiated advisories -- and the all-important track maps -- on Tropical Depression Nine on Tuesday afternoon. Forecasters said the depression could become Tropical Storm Isaias (pronounced ees-ah-EE-ahs) by Wednesday and then the first hurricane of 2026 on Thursday as it tracks northward toward the Gulf Coast.

The National Hurricane Center warned Tropical Storm Isaias is expected to strengthen rapidly, and become a hurricane. Where it's going.

Isaias is expected to meander east in the Gulf before taking a northeasterly turn and will likely rapidly intensify, according to the NHC. The storm is expected to make landfall early Saturday morning as a hurricane with winds of 105 mph.

As of 4 a.m. CDT Friday, the center of Category 2 Hurricane Isaias was located about 200 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River, and it was tracking to the north-northeast at 15 mph, which is a quicker forward speed than it has had so far.

Tropical Storm Isaias has formed in the Gulf and is expected to rapidly strengthen over the next few days. Here's a look at its projected path.

Tropical Storm Isaias formed early Wednesday morning in the southwestern Gulf and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane within hours as it tracks toward the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi,

Isaias is expected to strengthen into a hurricane before reaching the Gulf Coast. Here's what forecasters know about the storm and what it could mean for New York.

The storm is expected to hit Baja California on Monday. Fueled by El Niño, it was earlier one of the strongest ever in the region.

On Friday at 7:59 a.m. the NWS San Diego CA released a tropical storm watch in effect until 4 p.m. for San Diego County Inland Valleys.