After Helene, Hurricane Isaac Is Strengthening in the Atlantic Ocean, Here’s Where It’s Headed

Mar. 15, 2025

Hurricane Isaac.Photo:NOAA GOES Image Viewer

NOAA GOES Image Viewer

Less than one day afterHurricane Helenedevastated several states in the Southern U.S., the Atlantic is already home to a new storm.

According to reports from theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Isaac gained strength on Friday, Sept. 27, less than 24 hours after Helene caused flooding and knocked out power for over one million people. The storm began developing into a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean about 1,000 miles from Bermuda, per theAssociated PressandUSA Today.

Hurricane Isaac has had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and it was traveling about 18 mph east-northeast, per the Hurricane Center.

In addition to Isaac, Tropical Storm Joyce is in the midst of forming in the Atlantic — althoughNOAAreports that forecasters aren’t expecting this storm to post any threat to land.

Residents across the south are still reeling after Helene, which was ranked as a Category 4 storm when it made landfall around 11:10 p.m. local time on Thursday near Perry, Fla.

In just a matter of hours, the storm created damaging wind gusts as well as “catastrophic, life-threatening, [and] record-breaking” flooding in many areas. Ahead of Helene’s arrival, President Joe Biden declared astate of emergencyfor Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 24.

Since the height of the storm overnight, Helene has been downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone, per theHurricane Center.

Flooded streets in Georgia following Hurricane Helene.Megan Varner/Getty

Megan Varner/Getty

TheAssociated Pressreported that communities across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina are now in the midst of their recovery efforts. Flooding damage has been reported as far away as northeast Tennessee, where a hospital flood caused patients and doctors to evacuate to the roof of a building to avoid rising water, the outlet said.

Emergency crews have been working nonstop to rescue those in need and at least 40 deaths have been reported across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, according to theAssociated Press.

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Officials in Florida also warned residents to be careful around floodwater as they can cause “sickness, injury, or even death.”

“If you are trapped and need help please call for rescuers - DO NOT TRY TO TREAD FLOODWATERS YOURSELF,” the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office wrote in aFacebook postFriday. “The water can hide animals, live wires, sewage, sharp objects, large debris, and other hazards.”

source: people.com