Hurricane Isaias strengthens to Category 2 storm in Gulf

The big picture: Most of the storm's impacts will be east of New Orleans.

• Some of the outer bands could bring scattered storms to the metro Friday, the National Weather Service says.

• Heavy rain is not expected in the city, but NWS says it will likely be windy Friday and Saturday.
• Sunday and Monday should be dry, sunny and glorious.

The latest: Isaias is rapidly strengthening in the Gulf and is expected to be just shy of a Category 3 hurricane on Friday.

• It's forecast to remain a "dangerous" hurricane through landfall near Gulf Shores, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida, the National Hurricane Center says.
• Life-threatening storm surge is expected from the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana to Suwannee, Florida.
• Parts of Plaquemines Parish are under a voluntary evacuation order.
• See the latest track and warnings.

Closures: Amtrak has suspended train service between Mobile and New Orleans through Saturday due to the weather, according to Mobile news outlet Lagniappe.

• Nearly two-thirds of Gulf oil production had been shut down as of Thursday, NBC reports.

Between the lines: Isaias is the Spanish form of Isaiah. It's pronounced ees-ah-EE-ahs, NHC says.

• The name was last used in 2020, and NHC had to educate folks about the pronunciation then, too.