Hurricane Isaias updates: Storm makes landfall in Florida Panhandle

Communities on the U.S. Gulf Coast are bracing as Hurricane Isaias made landfall Friday night as a Category 2 storm.

The storm, with winds up to 105 mph, made landfall near Destin, Florida, in the Florida Panhandle at 8:30 p.m. CT. As it continued its march north over the western part of the Panhandle, the storm weakened to a Category 1.

A hurricane warning is currently in effect from just east of Biloxi, Mississippi, through Mobile and Pensacola to Panama City and Mexico Beach, Florida.

Many low-lying and coastal areas, particularly on the Florida Panhandle, are under evacuation orders, with communities preparing for strong winds that could near 120 mph in some locations, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a press conference Friday morning.

Storm surge warnings are also in place along the coast, with surges forecast to reach up to 9 feet from the Santa Rosa/Okaloosa County Line, Florida, to Grayton Beach, Florida.

Hurricane Isaias continued its march north over the western Florida Panhandle on Friday night, although it weakened to a Category 1 storm, the National Weather Service said.

Maximum winds were at 90 mph and it was moving at 20 mph, the NWS said.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis provided an update on Hurricane Isaias after the storm made landfall in the state Friday night. DeSantis said wind shear weakened the storm from a Category 3 to a Category 2 before landfall, although strong winds and heavy rainfall remained significant threats. Florida Department of Transportation crews and search-and-rescue teams were scheduled to begin mobilizing around 3 a.m. Saturday. Transportation crews planned to clear debris from roadways and inspect bridges, while emergency responders, including the Florida National Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, prepared to assist with rescue operations where needed. There were approximately 260,000 electric utility accounts without power across the region, he said. Utility crews were prepared to begin restoration work as soon as conditions became safe. The governor said he would provide another update on Saturday morning. -ABC News' Jason Volack

Life-threatening storm surge is hitting the Gulf Coast as dangerous hurricane conditions and flash flooding begin to spread inland, the National Weather Service said. Radar and surface observations indicated that the maximum sustained winds are now 100 mph, NWS said.

Hurricane Isaias, a strong Category 2 hurricane, made landfall Friday night. The storm, with winds up to 105 mph, made landfall near Destin, Florida, in the Florida Panhandle at 8:30 p.m. CT, the National Weather Service said.

Water levels were rising rapidly along the coast as dangerous hurricane conditions and life-threatening flash flooding spread inland.

Extreme wind warnings and a flash flood emergency continue as landfall is soon expected near the Fort Walton Beach and Destin area of Florida. A wind gust of 102 mph with sustained wind of 62 mph was recently reported at Pensacola City Hall.

Over 430,000 customers are without power in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Louisiana as of 8:40 p.m. as Hurricane Isaias neared landfall. The highest number of outages was in Florida, which saw more than 304,000 customers without power.

Hurricane Isaias has weakened slightly to a strong Category 2 storm with winds at 110 mph as it nears landfall Friday night. Extreme wind warnings continue from Pensacola to Destin, Florida. Landfall is expected in the next hour or two.

An extreme wind warning has been issued for portions of the western Florida Panhandle, as the eyewall of Hurricane Isaias approaches the coast. "This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation!" the National Weather Service warned. An 81 mph wind gust was reported earlier this evening in the Gulf northeast of the hurricane's center, the NWS said.

More than 120,000 customers are without power across five states in the hurricane zone -- Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Georgia.

Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport in Panama City, Florida ceased all commercial operations as of 1 p.m. CT Friday, according to a social media post.