The Junior Explorer · ages 9–11 · 2026-10-10
A Hurricane Hits Florida
Isaias was the first hurricane of the year in the Atlantic Ocean. It reached land on Friday night.
A hurricane is a giant spinning storm that grows over warm ocean water. Hurricane Isaias came ashore near the beach town of Destin, Florida, late on Friday.
Its winds blew at 105 miles an hour. That is much faster than a car on the highway. Out at sea, before it reached land, Isaias was even stronger.
Many Waffle House restaurants closed before the storm. That is a big clue. They almost never close, so people use them to judge how dangerous a storm is.
The storm knocked down trees and power lines. Nearly 900,000 homes and businesses lost electricity. Sadly, at least four people died. About 5,000 members of Florida's National Guard are helping people clean up.
Why it matters
Most hurricane danger comes from water, not wind. Storms push seawater onto land and drop huge amounts of rain. That is why families leave the coast when they are told to.
HOW FAST IS 105 MPH?. A car on the highway goes about 65 mph. Isaias blew almost twice as fast.
Sources
- https://www.arabnews.com/world/isaias-makes-landfall-as-hurricane-hammering-us-gulf-coast-with-powerful-winds-dangerous-flooding-3005572
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2026/10/10/isaias-makes-landfall-florida-leaving-hundreds-thousands-without-power/
- https://www.wftv.com/news/local/live-updates-hurricane-isaias-weakened-post-tropical-cyclone-after-hitting-florida/TFHKTG6M5FG4NGPNM4TKANEVYE/