Life-threatening Hurricane Isaias makes landfall in Florida

Figure caption, Watch: Powerful waves crash ashore as Hurricane Isaias approaches USByKwasi Gyamfi Asiedu and Nardine SaadHurricane Isaias has made landfall in the US state of Florida and is expected to bring life-threatening flooding and winds that have forced thousands to evacuate.The storm weakened slightly to a category 2 hurricane, with 110 mph (175 kph) winds, before ramming into Florida's western panhandle on Friday evening.Florida, Alabama, and Georgia have each issued states of emergency as meteorologists warned of life-threatening storm surge that could cause up to 9 feet (2.7m) of flooding in some areas. Isaias is one of three storm systems affecting North America this weekend, with the two others hitting Mexico and Southern California in the El-Niño fuelled warm waters of the Pacific Ocean. Both Florida and Alabama instituted mandatory evacuations due to the storm. In Florida, those evacuations includes coastal communities in direct aim of the powerful storm. Florida Senator Rick Scott encouraged residents in designated areas to evacuate as soon as possible, as he warned in a social media post: "DO NOT WAIT! Get out NOW!"Governor of Alabama Kay Ivey issued a mandatory e...