Hurricane Isaias is strengthening and expected to hit the Gulf Coast soon, prompting major airlines to waive flight change and cancellation fees for some airports in the South.

Hurricane Isaias is a Category 1 storm with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph and is expected to strengthen into a Category 2 before potentially weakening just before it makes landfall along the U.S. northern Gulf Coast late Friday or early Saturday, according to the National Hurricane Center .

In addition to high winds, Isaias is expected to produce three to seven inches of rainfall from far southeastern Louisiana to the Florida Big Bend, with the National Hurricane Center noting localized totals up to 15 inches are possible across the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend.

American Airlines is offering waived change fees for flyers scheduled to travel Friday and Saturday through, to or from New Orleans; Tampa, Florida; Destin/Fort Walton Beach, Florida; Gulfport/Biloxi, Mississippi; Mobile, Alabama; Panama City, Florida; and Pensacola, Florida.

JetBlue waivers are available for customers traveling Friday through Saturday to or from New Orleans.

Waivers from United Airlines are available for people traveling to/from New Orleans; Birmingham, Alabama; Panama City, Florida; Gulfport/Biloxi, Mississippi; Huntsville, Alabama; Montgomery, Alabama; Mobile, Alabama; and Pensacola, Florida.

Southwest waivers are available for travel to or from New Orleans; Destin/Fort Walton Beach, Florida; Panama City Beach, Florida; and Pensacola, Florida.

Delta Airlines does not mention any waivers but notes an advisory for travel impacts on airports along the northern Gulf Coast.

The National Hurricane Center is warning residents in the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama and southern Mississippi to prepare for long-duration power outages. The agency noted flash flooding and river flooding are possible alongside damaging wind gusts.

Hurricane Isaias is the first Atlantic hurricane of 2026 and follows a rare September nor’easter that brought strong winds and rainfall to the northeast, provoking five airlines to offer travel waivers. The trajectory for Isaias places it in Tennessee and Kentucky by late Saturday and early Sunday, by which time the storm will have significantly weakened and transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone. Forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted a 75% chance for below-normal hurricane activity in March. That prediction is holding strong, as Isaias is the only Atlantic hurricane to form since hurricane season began over four months ago, and is the latest first hurricane to ever form during a hurricane season.

Nor’easter Winds Blow Up East Coast—600 Flight Delays At New York’s LaGuardia (Forbes)