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Most oil production in the Gulf of Mexico was shut down and many drilling platforms were evacuated because of Hurricane Isaias. The Marine Minerals Administration reported that 1.5 million barrels of daily production, nearly 72 percent of the area's total, had been shut down.
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Tropical Storm Isaias was reported to have strengthened into the first hurricane of the Atlantic season in the Gulf of Mexico. The U.S. National Hurricane Center expected the hurricane to make landfall early the following evening or on Saturday morning, although its location remained unclear. Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida were identified as the states most at risk. The hurricane’s center was observed about 745 kilometers south of Mississippi and was moving at 120 kilometers per hour. Its winds were expected to reach more than 150 kilometers per hour, while heavy rainfall could cause sudden flooding. Warm Gulf waters were reported to be contributing to its rapid intensification.