MIAMI - Tropical Storm Isaias rapidly intensified into a hurricane Thursday as it churned toward the northern Gulf Coast, with the National Hurricane Center warning that preparations to protect life and property along the warning area should be rushed to completion.

As of 7 a.m. CDT Thursday, the center of Isaias was located near 23.7 North, 90.6 West, moving east-northeast at 9 mph with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph and a minimum central pressure of 975 mb, according to the NHC. Hurricane Hunters were actively investigating the storm at that time.

The storm had been a tropical depression as recently as Wednesday morning, when the NHC upgraded it to Tropical Storm Isaias at 4 a.m. CDT. At that point, the center was located near latitude 22.0 North, longitude 94.1 West - about 285 miles west of Progreso, Mexico, and approximately 580 miles southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River - with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and a minimum central pressure of 1004 mb, moving east-northeast at 8 mph.

The NHC forecast track calls for Isaias to pass north of the Yucatan Peninsula before approaching the U.S. northern Gulf Coast on Friday. The Florida Panhandle falls within the zone the NHC identified as at risk for significant rainfall, with the agency projecting 3 to 6 inches from Friday through the weekend across the northern Gulf Coast stretching from far southeastern Louisiana to the Panhandle, with localized totals up to 10 inches possible. Flash and urban flooding, along with isolated river flooding, are possible.

Life-threatening surf and rip current conditions are expected along the Gulf Coast late this week as swells generated by Isaias spread northward. Rainfall of 1 to 3 inches, with isolated amounts up to 5 inches, is also possible across much of the Southeast as far north as the Tennessee Valley and the Carolinas.

As of Wednesday morning, no coastal watches or warnings were in effect, but the NHC stated that Hurricane Watches would likely be required for a portion of the U.S. northern Gulf Coast later that day. The NHC advised that interests in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and the U.S. northern Gulf Coast should closely monitor the storm’s progress. The next full advisory was scheduled for 10 a.m. CDT Wednesday, with updates continuing as the storm approaches landfall.