Weather
Gulf of Mexico Weather Oct. 9: Hurricane Warnings, 37-Foot Seas and 110-Knot Gusts
PENSACOLA, FL – Hurricane Warnings remain in effect across portions of the northern Gulf of Mexico on Friday, Oct. 9, as Hurricane Isaias threatens offshore waters with wind gusts reaching 110 knots a
By Mason Reid · 2026-10-09T11:36:42.945Z
PENSACOLA, FL – Hurricane Warnings remain in effect across portions of the northern Gulf of Mexico on Friday, Oct. 9, as Hurricane Isaias threatens offshore waters with wind gusts reaching 110 knots and seas potentially building to 37 feet by Friday night.
The National Weather Service in Mobile and the National Hurricane Center issued marine forecasts early Friday outlining dangerous conditions across waters off Alabama, Mississippi and northwest Florida.
The Weather Service in Mobile reported winds of 50 to 70 knots with gusts up to 110 knots, equivalent to approximately 127 mph, across designated coastal waters. Seas could reach 25 to 30 feet offshore, while waves in bays and sounds could reach 5 feet.
Hurricane force winds are likely from Friday afternoon through early Saturday morning in the affected Mobile marine warning area.
Farther offshore, the National Hurricane Center forecast seas of 22 to 34 feet Friday across the north central Gulf of Mexico. Seas could increase to 25 to 37 feet Friday night before subsiding to 13 to 20 feet late Friday night.
The highest forecast seas apply to specific offshore marine zones, not the entire Gulf of Mexico.
In the northeastern Gulf, seas of 21 to 32 feet are forecast Friday, with waves potentially reaching 24 to 36 feet Friday night before gradually diminishing.
Hurricane Warnings also cover St. Andrews Bay and waters extending offshore from Mexico Beach toward the Okaloosa Walton county line. The Weather Service in Tallahassee forecast northeast winds of 30 to 50 knots, gusts up to 70 knots and seas of 18 to 23 feet in those waters.
Forecasters warned that hurricane force winds and hazardous seas could capsize or damage vessels and severely reduce visibility.
Mariners were urged to remain in port, alter course or secure vessels for extreme conditions.
Conditions are forecast to gradually improve Saturday, with seas in several northern Gulf offshore zones falling to 6 to 9 feet. Hazardous marine conditions may persist even as the strongest winds diminish.