The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale ranks the severity of the weather event. But there's another way familiar to communities in the south: The Waffle House Index.

The restaurant chain has 1,600 restaurants spread across locations mid-Atlantic to Florida and across the Gulf Coast, which it says leaves "it particularly vulnerable to hurricanes".

Craig Fugate, former administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Authority, thought up the unofficial indicator in 2004, Associated Press reports.

“If you get there and the Waffle House is closed?” Fugate has said. “That’s really bad."

Image source, Getty Images

Here's how the company, which has embraced the index, describes it: "Green means the restaurant is serving a full menu, a signal that damage in an area is limited and the lights are on. Yellow means a limited menu, indicating power from a generator, at best, and low food supplies. Red means the restaurant is closed, a sign of severe damage in the area or unsafe conditions."

A Waffle House spokesperson confirmed to the BBC this afternoon the chain had already closed a number of locations in the hurricane's path and "will continue monitoring conditions".

"Associate and Customer safety is our highest priority. We plan to open to serve these communities as soon as the storm passes and safe conditions permit," the spokesperson said.

Image source, Waffle House

Residents and business owners in Pensacola, Florida, are doing what they can to prepare for the oncoming storm, while others are taking advantage of the weather being whipped up.

Mandatory evacuation orders are now in place across parts of the state, including Escambia County where Pensacola is located.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Trump has now shared his alternative plans in a statement on social media.

He writes: "Based on the fact that a huge Hurricane/Storm is coming, it is important to have our wonderful First Responders, Law Enforcement, and others, focused on that Storm, and in no way be thinking about the safety, or presence, of the President of the United States, ME!"

Instead of the football game in Alabama, the president says he will attend a rally in Tennessee alongside the state's senators, Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty.

Regarding the match he's missing, Trump adds: "hopefully, the Game will go on despite the weather!"

Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu
Live reporter

US President Donald Trump will not attend the highly-anticipated American football match between the University of Georgia and the University of Alabama.

The White House press office tells the BBC it "can confirm he is no longer attending".

The match on Saturday is due to be played in Tuscaloosa, Alabama - which is under a state of emergency declared by Governor Kay Ivey.

Several major sporting events in the US Gulf Coast region this weekend have already been cancelled or rescheduled.

Previously, Trump told reporters “if there’s a hurricane, I don’t want to do anything” to take the focus of first responders and law enforcement away from the storm. “We’ll have to see,” he said on Wednesday.

Image source, Getty Images

Rebecka Pieder
US reporter

Discussions have been had online about how the storm's name should be pronounced.

At one point, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called the name "weird" - "I don't know how to pronounce this," he said at a recent press conference. "I'm calling it Isaiah."

Isaias is the Spanish version of the biblical name Isaiah, pronounced "ee-sah-ee-ahs".

It's on an alphabetical list of hurricane names that are recycled every six years by the World Meteorological Organisation.

For Atlantic hurricanes, representatives from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean propose and approve names, which have to be usable across languages spoken in those regions.

Image source, Getty Images

Florida Senator Ashley Moody says "Florida is ready to respond, no matter what [Hurricane Isaias] brings our way".

Her social media post on X also shares a video from another account, which shows a large number of trucks assembled - they appear to be preparing for possible repairs to power lines.

"This is what storm preparation looks like!" Moody says in reference to the video.

Evacuation orders are in place in parts of the state as communities brace for the storm's arrival.

In a previous post a few hours earlier, Moody warned that the window to seek shelter was "nearly over".

The outer bands of Hurricane Isaias are already impacting the Panhandle and north Florida, the state's Division of Emergency Management says.

In its latest update, it adds that conditions are "expected to deteriorate as the storm approaches landfall" and warns of potential flooding.

People are advised to not drive or walk through floodwaters; monitor weather alerts and local official guidance; and take photos of damage and flooding high-water marks.

Image source, Gallo Images/Orbital Horizon/Copernicus Sentinel Data 2025

Hurricane Isaias has been classified as a category three hurricane by the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Hurricanes are ranked on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, a rating from one to five depending on how severe the weather event is.

Those that reach category three and above are considered major because of the potential for significant loss of life and damage.

For Isaias, this means "devastating damage will occur", as per the scale's description from the NHC: well-built homes may incur major damage, many trees will be snapped, roads may be blocked, and electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks.

Winds for category three are between 111-129 mph (178-208km/h).

The NHC's latest public advisory on Isaias says it is expected to be at or near major strength when it makes landfall this evening, and it will subsequently weaken.

Image source, Reuters

As Hurricane Isaias edges towards Florida, residents have been speaking to Reuters news agency.

Jane Driscoll from Escambia County says because it's a hurricane, they've had a few days of warning.

"So over the last three days, we have been preparing our home, our yard, making sure we have enough non-perishable food. A gallon of water per person and animal, per day."

She adds that there's only so much they can do, and they "hope and pray that the hurricane will soften".

Thomas Santiago says they have had category three hurricanes hit the area previously, and then "they just kind of fizzle out".

"It doesn't look like it's gonna be that bad, but it's supposed to roll in at 11 o'clock (0400 GMT) tonight with the tornadoes. That's the worst part."

Speaking near a local beach, Haille Hill says she doesn't "know why everyone's on the beach, I wouldn't be on the beach".

"It's a little scary, but I hope everyone's OK and everyone gets through it."

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

Tropical storm conditions have begun along the northern Gulf Coast, the National Hurricane Center says in its latest update.

It adds that preparations against "life-threatening storm surge and devastating winds should be completed in the next couple of hours".

The center defines a tropical storm as sustained winds of 39-73 mph (63-118km/h).

The state of Florida has partnered with taxi service Uber to provide Floridians free rides to shelters as Hurricane Isaias approaches.

The company is offering free round-trip rides, to and from a state-approved emergency shelter, up to the value of $40 (£30) each way.

The Florida Division of Emergency Management says to claim a ride to safety, users should:

• Open the Uber app
• Tap Account then Wallet and add the promo code ISAIAS26

Nearby shelters can be found on the Florida Disaster website., external

Image source, @GovRonDeSantis

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warns the hurricane could be "very, very dangerous" for parts of his state.

"You're going to have a risk of a lot of water being dumped with this storm," he says in a video update shared on X.

"It's not just a coastal event. There will be major impacts on the interior, particularly with flooding and with rising water."

In a subsequent post, he adds: "Now is the time to finalize your plans.

"If you are not evacuating, make sure you have everything you need to shelter in place."

Image source, Reuters

As hurricane Isaias approaches the US, several transportation cancellations have already been confirmed.

National rail provider Amtrak says its services from New Orleans to Mobile are suspended until Sunday, white its New Orleans-to-Atlanta service is suspended until Monday.

Several airports have announced they are closing due to the storm, including Pensacola International and Destin-Fort Walton Beach in Florida, and Alabama's Gulf Shores International.

The Federal Aviation Administration warns that further cancellations could be seen at Orlando International, Tampa International, Miami International and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airports.

Interstate bus company Greyhound has also warned that Isaias may cause delays or cancellations on some routes.

In its latest update the National Weather Service (NWS) says "numerous" instances of flash flooding are likely after Isaias makes landfall - "some of which will be significant".

It says Isaias is expected to make landfall on the Central Gulf Coast later Friday, bringing 4-8in of rainfall (10-20cm) across southern Alabama, the Florida Panhandle and south-west Georgia.

It also warns that localised rainfall totals of up to 15in (38cm) are possible in some areas.

Image source, Getty Images

In its most recent update, the National Hurricane Center warns that Isaias will likely cause a "life-threatening storm surge and devastating winds" along the Florida and Alabama coasts.

The centre - or the eye - of the storm is expected to reach the western Florida Panhandle on Friday evening local time, it adds.

"Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions."

Image source, Getty Images

As we mentioned earlier, there parts of Florida, Alabama and Georgia have declared states of emergency.

In parts of Alabama and Florida, there are also mandatory evacuation orders in place, which direct people to leave a specific area due to an immediate danger.

Alabama

Governor of Alabama Kay Ivey announced mandatory evacuation orders for all non-residents, tourists and visitors in key counties likely to be heavily affected by the storm, including all of Baldwin County, and parts of Mobile County.

Residents of the most vulnerable coastal areas of Mobile are also encouraged to voluntarily evacuate, "before conditions deteriorate", the county's emergency response agency said on its web page.

Florida

Local officials issued mandatory evacuation orders across a handful of coastal counties along the Florida Panhandle, including Escambia County, where Pensacola is, as well as Okaloosa County, Walton County and Franklin County.

Florida Senator Rick Scott encouraged residents in designated areas to evacuate as soon as possible, as he warned in a social media post: "DO NOT WAIT! Get out NOW!"

Rachel Clun
Business reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Workers have been evacuated from more than 100 oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico and more than half of all offshore production has been halted ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Isaias.

The US Marine Minerals Administration said personnel had been evacuated from 121 of the 371 manned platforms in the Gulf.

The agency estimates about 63% of the daily offshore oil production and 57% of daily natural gas production has been halted, reducing production of crude oil by 1.3 million barrels per day.

The agency said it would work with offshore operators and other agencies until the storm is no longer a threat to the area and production can return to normal, inspecting facilities before they can be brought back online.

Those facilities accounted for 15% of all US crude oil production and 2% of natural gas as of 2024, according to the American Petroleum Institute.

The cut to production comes as global oil prices remain above $100 a barrel, putting continued upward pressure on fuel prices.

Flights delays are to be expected as a result of Gulf route closures, the Federal Aviation Administration writes on social media.

Miami, Orlando and Tampa are places likely to experience these delays, it adds.

Other airports in particularly vulnerable areas have already closed in preparation ahead of the storm, including:

• Pensacola International Airport in Florida
• Destin-Fort Walton Beach airport in Florida
• Gulf Shores International Airport in Alabama

In Alabama, the Gulf Shores International director says they will "reopen as soon as conditions are safe for our staff to assess the airport’s condition after the storm".

Simon King
Lead weather presenter, BBC Weather

For the first time in more than 30 years, a hurricane has not formed in the Atlantic throughout September - normally the most active month for hurricane activity.

The biggest reason for this is El Niño, which traditionally stifles activity in the Atlantic but brings a very active season in the eastern North Pacific. Strong winds blowing at different speeds and directions at higher altitudes rip apart thunderstorms, preventing them from growing into tropical storms or hurricanes.

With a very strong El Niño forecast, the US National Hurricane Center in May predicted a total of eight to 14 named storms. Of those, three to six were predicted to become hurricanes, with one to three becoming major hurricanes.

This year marks the latest date on record since the start of the satellite era (1960s onward) where no hurricane has formed in the North Atlantic.

There were, however, four named tropical storms that formed in September: Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo and Hanna. All but Edouard stayed out in the open waters of the Atlantic.

Image source, getty