Hurricane warning in Mobile and Baldwin counties: Your storm prep checklist

A hurricane watch is now in effect for parts of the Alabama coast as Tropical Storm Isaias heads our way. The watch covers the coasts of Alabama, the western Florida Panhandle and Mississippi.

The National Weather Service in Mobile issued the watch on the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 7, for Mobile Bay, the Mississippi Sound, Perdido Bay and nearby coastal waters.

Baldwin County and Mobile County schools have both announced that all schools will be closed on Friday, Oct. 9.

What a hurricane watch means

A watch is a heads-up, not a guarantee. It means hurricane conditions — which are sustained winds of 74 mph or greater — are possible in the area.

The National Hurricane Center issues a watch 48 hours before it expects tropical storm-force winds to start, since it may not be safe to prepare once those winds arrive. A hurricane warning is the next step up. It means those conditions are expected, and it comes 36 hours before tropical storm-force winds.

In other words, this is your window to get things done while the weather is still calm.

Isaias timeline for Mobile Bay and Baldwin County

Here’s how the next few days are shaping up:

• Wednesday, Oct. 7: Isaias formed in the Gulf early Wednesday as the ninth named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.
• Thursday, Oct. 8: Forecasters expect it to strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane.
• Early morning Friday, Oct. 9: Tropical storm-force winds are possible along the coast, according to NWS Mobile.
• Friday afternoon through early Saturday, Oct. 10: Hurricane-force winds are possible.
• Friday night into Saturday morning: Landfall is expected, and Isaias could be a Category 2 storm with 110 mph winds.

The National Hurricane Center’s forecast has the storm reaching the northern Gulf Coast late Friday or early Saturday, with the center near the Alabama coast. The track could still shift, so keep checking for updates.

What is storm surge and why it’s the biggest threat on the Alabama coast

You’ll hear a lot about storm surge over the next few days, so here’s what it means. Storm surge is seawater pushed onto land by a hurricane’s winds. It’s separate from rain flooding, and it can reach well beyond the beach.

The National Hurricane Center describes it as life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the shoreline. It’s also the leading cause of hurricane-related deaths in the United States.

For Isaias, forecasters say the most significant surge threat is on the eastern side of the storm, near and east of where it comes ashore. Onshore winds there pile water into bays and estuaries. AccuWeather forecasts a surge of 6 to 10 feet over Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle Friday night into Saturday morning, Oct. 10.

Mobile and Baldwin counties both base their evacuation zones mainly on storm surge risk, not wind. So even if you plan to ride out the wind, it’s worth knowing your zone.

Storm surge watch vs. warning

• Watch: Life-threatening inundation is possible, generally within 48 hours.
• Warning: The danger of life-threatening inundation exists, generally within 36 hours.

These are separate from hurricane watches and warnings, so an area can be under one without the other, NOAA says.

Wind, rain + tornado forecast for Mobile + Baldwin counties

Out on Mobile Bay and the Mississippi Sound, the marine forecast calls for winds of 50 to 70 knots (about 58 to 80 mph) with gusts up to 95 knots (about 109 mph). Farther offshore, seas could reach 28 to 33 feet.

On land, there are two more things to watch:

• Rain: The heaviest rain is expected from Mobile and Baldwin counties northward, with some areas possibly topping 5 inches.
• Tornadoes: The tornado risk picks up Friday night, Oct. 9, along the immediate coast.

Boaters: secure your vessel now

If you’ve got a boat, now’s the time to deal with it. A small craft advisory stays in effect until 3AM Friday, Oct. 9, and the hurricane watch applies on top of it.

“Mariners should remain in port, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for extreme conditions before conditions deteriorate further.”

National Weather Service in Mobile

Hurricane-force winds and rough seas can capsize or damage boats and cut visibility sharply, so it’s better to get yours settled early.

How to prepare for a hurricane in Mobile and Baldwin counties

You’ve got today and tomorrow to get ready, before the wind picks up and the roads get busy. Here’s a checklist to work through:

• Know your zone. Find your home on the map, learn your evacuation zone and look over your routes — here are the links for Mobile and Baldwin county EMAs.
• Stock up for at least three days. Ready.gov recommends food and water for at least three days, plus medications, a flashlight, batteries, cash and first aid supplies. A gallon of water per person per day is the standard guideline.
• Charge everything. Charge your phones as the storm gets closer and keeping an emergency charger and a NOAA Weather Radio in your kit.
• Fill the tank. Keep your gas tank full and stock your car with emergency supplies.
• Tidy up outside. Clear out gutters and drains, bring in outdoor furniture and consider hurricane shutters.
• Protect your paperwork. Make copies of key records and store them in a waterproof container, with another copy on your phone or in the cloud, according to Americares.
• Don’t forget the pets. Include the needs of pets and anyone with special diets when you stock food and water.
• Check your boat. Make sure any boat is securely moored.
• Stay in the loop. NOAA recommends relying on forecasts from the National Hurricane Center and your local NWS office. Baldwin County EMA suggests getting your information from several places, including NWS Mobile, the county and local news.

If local officials order an evacuation, get going as soon as possible. Surge can rise fast, and it’s the most dangerous part of a hurricane. Check in on neighbors who might need a hand getting ready, too.