Forecasters Monitoring Hurricanes Isaias And Rachel

(Miami, FL) — The first Atlantic hurricane of the year is headed toward the Gulf Coast. The National Hurricane Center says Isaias [[ ee-sy-EE-us ]] is a Category 1 storm this morning, with maximum wind speeds of 80 miles per hour. It’s been gaining strength overnight with current projections showing Isaias making landfall somewhere between New Orleans and Panama City either late Friday or early Saturday. In the Pacific, Tropical Storm Rachel is currently churning off the coast of Mexico and is expected to hit the U.S. as a tropical cyclone by early Sunday, spreading heavy rain, strong winds and other hazards across the Southwest.