Trace Hurricane Isaias from its rapid jump to Category 3 at 120 mph to its last advisory near Louisville
EndedHurricane Isaias is no longer active. The last advisory, on Oct 11, placed its center about 110 miles southeast of Louisville, with winds near 25 mph, after it had weakened below hurricane strength. Isaias formed in the Atlantic on Oct 6. It peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with 120 mph winds and a minimum pressure of 958 mb on Oct 9, and the National Hurricane Center ended advisories on Oct 11.
How strong Hurricane Isaias got, and what that means
The map above shows the path, colored by hurricane category.
Isaias was a hurricane from Oct 8 to Oct 10. It strengthened rapidly: winds rose 35 mph in about 24 hours (Oct 7 to Oct 8). The National Hurricane Center calls a gain of 35 mph or more in 24 hours rapid intensification.
Over the advisories we kept, the center moved about 1480 miles, from 22.1N 95.6W toward the northeast to 37.5N 84.0W. At its nearest, the center was about 70 miles southeast of Nashville on Oct 11.
What a Category 3 hurricane can do: Devastating damage: major damage to well-built homes, many trees down, and electricity and water unavailable for several days to weeks. The Saffir-Simpson scale uses wind speed only; storm surge and rainfall flooding can be deadly in any hurricane.
Damage descriptions paraphrase the NHC Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Final damage, rainfall and casualty figures appear in the NHC Tropical Cyclone Report, usually published months after the season.
Timeline
| Milestone | When (UTC) | Center | Winds | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First advisory | Oct 6 21:00 UTC | 22.1N 95.6W | 35 mph | 1007 mb |
| Became a tropical storm | Oct 7 09:00 UTC | 22.0N 94.1W | 40 mph | 1004 mb |
| Reached hurricane strength | Oct 8 03:30 UTC | 22.9N 91.9W | 75 mph | 982 mb |
| Peak winds (Category 3) | Oct 9 12:20 UTC | 27.0N 87.6W | 120 mph | 959 mb |
| Lowest pressure | Oct 9 12:00 UTC | 27.0N 87.7W | 110 mph | 958 mb |
| Weakened below hurricane strength | Oct 10 06:00 UTC | 31.5N 86.5W | 65 mph | 1000 mb |
| Last advisory | Oct 11 15:00 UTC | 37.5N 84.0W | 25 mph | 1010 mb |
Winds over time
Hurricane Isaias at a glance
The key facts of this event in one place.
Recovering after a storm
If you were affected, these official-source guides cover the next steps.
Be ready for the next one: Hurricane preparedness checklist →
Advisory history
Recent advisories, newest first.
| Advisory | Time (UTC) | Winds | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 020 | Oct 11 15:00 | 25 mph | 1010 mb |
| 019 | Oct 11 09:00 | 25 mph | 1010 mb |
| 018 | Oct 11 03:00 | 25 mph | 1009 mb |
| 017 | Oct 10 21:00 | 30 mph | 1007 mb |
| 016 | Oct 10 15:00 | 35 mph | 1006 mb |
| 015 | Oct 10 09:00 | 35 mph | 1002 mb |
| 014a | Oct 10 06:00 | 65 mph | 1000 mb |
| 014 | Oct 10 03:00 | 90 mph | 982 mb |
| 013a | Oct 10 02:00 | 100 mph | 978 mb |
| 013a | Oct 10 01:30 | 105 mph | 971 mb |
| 013a | Oct 10 01:00 | 105 mph | 971 mb |
| 013a | Oct 10 00:00 | 110 mph | 967 mb |
How Hurricane Isaias compares with history
Landfalls, peak winds and how it ranks against past storms.
At its peak, Hurricane Isaias had winds of 120 mph. That is stronger than 81% of the 867 named storms recorded in the Atlantic since 1950. The strongest on record is Allen (1980) at 190 mph.
| Year | Dates | Peak winds | Strength | Lowest pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Jul 28, 2020 to Aug 5, 2020 | 90 mph | Category 1 | 986 mb | Yes |
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2. Landfall means the center of the storm crossed a coastline at some point. It does not mean damage or a U.S. impact.
Common questions about Hurricane Isaias
Is Hurricane Isaias still active?
No. The last advisory, on Oct 11, placed its center about 110 miles southeast of Louisville, with winds near 25 mph, after it had weakened below hurricane strength. Official tracking of this event has ended. To see alerts that are active where you are now, use the Near Me page with your ZIP code.
Where is Hurricane Isaias now?
Hurricane Isaias is no longer being tracked. The last advisory, on Oct 11, placed its center about 110 miles southeast of Louisville, with winds near 25 mph, after it had weakened below hurricane strength. Over the advisories we kept, the center moved about 1480 miles, from 22.1N 95.6W toward the northeast to 37.5N 84.0W. At its nearest, the center was about 70 miles southeast of Nashville on Oct 11.
Is there a Hurricane Isaias tracker?
Hurricane Isaias is no longer tracked live, so there is no live tracker. The map on this page is the final tracker: the full path of Isaias, colored by category, from its first to its last official advisory.
What category was Hurricane Isaias?
Hurricane Isaias peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 120 mph on Oct 9. It is no longer a hurricane or tropical storm now that advisories have ended.
How strong was Hurricane Isaias?
Isaias peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 120 mph on Oct 9. The Saffir-Simpson scale rates hurricanes by wind speed only.
Where did Hurricane Isaias go?
Over the advisories we kept, the center moved about 1480 miles, from 22.1N 95.6W toward the northeast to 37.5N 84.0W. At its nearest, the center was about 70 miles southeast of Nashville on Oct 11.
Sources and method
Alerts, forecasts and storm positions come from the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center, refreshed every 15 minutes. We never decide evacuation for you. Impact levels are rules-based and not an official forecast.
Read the methodology →Report an error or request a correction