Welcome to Rough Draft’s live coverage of Hurricane Isaias and its potential impact on Metro Atlanta. For up-to-the-minute weather coverage, be sure to follow our media partner WSB-TV or the National Weather Service.
5:55 p.m.
Gwinnett County Schools has canceled all extracurricular activities and athletics scheduled for Saturday.
Morehouse College and Spelman College are moving homecoming activities, including the annual tailgate, to Sunday.
Atlanta Parks & Recreation has cancelled all programming for Saturday and closed all aquatic centers, golf courses, and the Chastain Arts Center.
5:40 p.m.
Oakhurst Porchfest has finally cancelled Saturday’s event after both DeKalb County and the City of Decatur declared states of emergency as Isaias approaches. Organizers said they would try to carry on even in heavy rain, but the lack of available police and city services forced the musical festival to cancel.
5:05 p.m.
Conditions are rapidly deteriorating along the Florida and Alabama Gulf Coast as Isaias prepares to make landfall later this evening. Parts of the Panhandle are under evacuation orders, and residents who chose to stay were urged to seek shelter.
At 5 p.m., the hurricane was located about 90 miles south of Pensacola.
Georgia Emergency Management officials said during an afternoon press conference that Georgians should take the storm seriously. Officials said strong winds, heavy rain, and the possibility of tornadoes were possible in parts of the state. Watch the full press conference below.
3:50 p.m.
The National Hurricane Center said the outer bands of Isaias are arriving at the Florida Panhandle with sustained winds of 120 mph.
ABC News confirmed that President Donald Trump will not attend the Georgia vs. Alabama game in Tuscaloosa as previously planned.
The Brookhaven Farmers Market will be held inside University Baptist Church on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.
The Wire & Wood Songwriters Festival in Alpharetta will proceed tonight starting at 6:30 p.m., but Saturday’s concerts have been cancelled.
3:15 p.m.
Peachtree Farmers Market is canceled tomorrow. The pumpkin patch and other activities planned for Oct. 10 are rescheduled for Oct. 17. Freedom Farmers Market will proceed as planned Saturday morning with a pared down vendor list. The annual Trees Atlanta tree sale at the market will take place Oct. 17.
DeKalb County Schools, Fulton County Schools, Atlanta Public Schools, and Decatur City Schools canceled all events and activities for Oct. 10.
DeKalb County declared a local state of emergency and will open emergency shelters starting Friday at 5 p.m. through Saturday.
WSB-TV Channel 2 Meteorologist Ashley Kramlich predicts rain bands from Isaias will begin moving through metro Atlanta within the next few hours. She also forecasts 30 to 50+ mph winds and up to three inches of rain through Saturday night.
1:45 p.m.
The Sandy Springs Farmers Market at City Springs is cancelled tomorrow morning. As of now, the city has not announced whether tonight’s showing of “Hocus Pocus” at Movies by Moonlight will proceed.
1:30 p.m.
The National Weather Service upgraded a Tropical Storm Watch to a Tropical Storm Warning for Heard, Meriwether, Pike, Troup, Upson, and Randolph counties. A High Wind Warning has also been extended to all of North Georgia.
The autumn edition of the Atlanta Fair has postponed its opening and will now officially open on Sunday, Oct. 11, instead of today. Be sure to visit the Atlanta Fair’s Facebook page for additional updates.
12:20 p.m.
Atlanta Pride officially canceled the first day of its two-day festival due to the severe weather expected throughout Saturday, Oct. 10. The Atlanta Pride parade remains scheduled for noon on Sunday, Oct. 11. The festival at Piedmont Park is also expected to commence on Sunday, weather and safety conditions permitting. Saturday-only premium passes will be honored on Sunday.
12:10 p.m.
Most events in Dunwoody, including its Saturday DHA Farmers Market, Groovin’ on the Green finale concert, Ride and Seek Public Bike Tour, and Electrical Vehicle Showcase have been cancelled or postponed. City Hall will close early on Friday as well.
11:45 a.m.
The National Hurricane Center said in its 11 a.m. briefing that Isaias is expected to reach the Florida Panhandle coast late this evening. Life-threatening storm surge and devastating winds are likely along the Florida Panhandle and Alabama coasts.
The Groovin’ on the Green concert in Dunwoody has been cancelled for Saturday night, and so has Shakespeare at Sunset in Avondale Estates.
10:15 a.m.
Georgia Power said it is monitoring the development of Hurricane Isaias and preparing personnel and resources to respond to potential power outages over the weekend.
“Hurricane Isaias is currently expected to bring damaging winds, heavy rainfall, and the possibility of tornadoes to portions of Georgia Power’s service territory,” the utility said in a press release. “Georgia Power teams have been preparing over the last week to respond to any damage and power outages caused by the storm.”
Georgia Power said customers can find more resources at GeorgiaPower.com/Storm.
Cancellations continue to come in, including the Mayor’s 5K on the 5th Runway at the Atlanta airport and the Blue Heron Nature Preserve’s Wildlife Photography event. Morningside Farmers Market said it will move Saturday’s market inside Morningside Presbyterian Church.
9:10 a.m.
The National Hurricane Center said new data from the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter indicates that Isaias has strengthened to a major Category 3 storm with sustained winds of 120 mph.
8:30 a.m.
The National Hurricane Center said in its 8 a.m. update that Isaias is on the cusp of becoming a major Category 3 hurricane.
The storm is moving north-northwest but is expected to take a turn toward the north later today and make landfall between Ocean Springs, MS, and the Bay/Gulf County Line, FL, late tonight or early Saturday morning.
In the meantime, event cancellations continue, including the Fall Festival on Ponce, the Mighty 6 Domestic Violence Awareness 5K, and A Day, the Day at the Dairies vintage market at Atlanta Dairies, and the Cryptid Creatives Halloween Market in East Atlanta Villiage.
A note for those attending Atlanta Pride this weekend, personal tents will not be allowed in the Meadow at Piedmont Park on Saturday due to high wind warnings. Be sure to follow Atlanta Pride for updates to the weekend schedule.
7 a.m.
The list of closings, cancellations, and postponements of weekend events continues to grow as Hurricane Isaias heads for landfall late tonight or early Saturday morning.
Added to the list since our 6:30 a.m. post are the Clark Atlanta vs. Fort Valley State football game (rescheduled to Nov. 12), the Georgia-Alabama watch party at Chamblee City Hall, Atlanta Turkish Food Festival, Tucker’s annual River Cleanup event, and the North Georgia Folk Festival in Athens.
If you were planning to attend an event this weekend, be sure to check the corresponding website or social media account for updates.
6:30 a.m.
The 5 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center says Isaias is now a Category 2 storm and could strengthen into a major Category 3 hurricane before it makes landfall tonight or early Saturday morning.
Isaias is the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season and is expected to make landfall on the Gulf Coast of Florida.
A Tropical Storm Watch was issued yesterday for Heard, Meriwether, Pike, Troup, and Upson counties in Georgia. A flood and high wind watch is in effect for most of North Georgia.
Gov. Brian Kemp issued a state of emergency for all 159 counties in preparation for the storm. He has also directed the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) to activate the State Operations Center (SOC) beginning early Friday afternoon.
The stormy weather comes amid a busy slate of events scheduled for this weekend.
Both Atlanta Pride and Oakhurst Porchfest said events will be held rain or shine unless there is a severe weather threat. Both organizations urged attendees to monitor their websites and social media for updates.
Two big events scheduled for Saturday have already been cancelled: the annual Chalktoberfest in Marietta and the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at Atlantic Station.
The big Alabama vs. Georgia game is still expected to begin at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, as weather forecasters believe the storm will have passed Tuscaloosa by kickoff time.
