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Isaias intensifies into first Atlantic hurricane of 2026

October 7, 2026 11:58 PM EDT

A satellite image of Tropical Storm Isaias, October 7, 2026, in this still image from a handout video. CSU/CIRA & NOAA/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. OVERLAY AND WATERMARK FROM SOURCE.

Oct 8 (Reuters) - Hurricane ‌Isaias became ​the ​first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season, triggering production shut-ins and evacuations at energy ‌facilities in the US Gulf.

Isaias was located ⁠about 445 miles (715 Km) south-southwest of the mouth of ‌the Mississippi river, packing ‌maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph), the US National Hurricane Center said on Thursday.

The ​NHC noted additional strengthening is expected and that Isaias should remain a strong hurricane ⁠as it approaches the northern Gulf coast on Friday night.

The hurricane ​is expected to pass through areas with significant offshore oil and gas production, ​along with onshore refining facilities, ‌which could pressure inventories and already-high prices at the pump.

The strong El ⁠Niño weather pattern has limited hurricane formation in the Atlantic this year by creating unfavorable wind conditions ⁠that disrupt strengthening storms.

US energy companies such as Shell ​and Chevron said they were curtailing offshore operations at their Gulf platforms.

US Gulf of Mexico oil and gas ‌producers had shut in about 25.08% of current oil production and 16.37% of ‌current natural gas production as of Wednesday, ⁠according to the Marine ‌Minerals Administration.

(Reporting by ​Sukanya Mitra and Ashitha Shivaprasad in Bengaluru; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Sonali ‌Paul)



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