Hurricane Isaias live updates: Gulf Coast braces for dangerous storm

BREAKING: Hurricane Isaias strengthening toward the US Gulf Coast, with evacuations ordered across parts of Alabama and Florida as it closes in on landfall.

Hurricane Isaias is strengthening as it bears down on the US Gulf Coast.

Evacuation orders are in place across parts of Alabama and Florida tonight, with the storm closing in on landfall. Officials aren't waiting for the final track, they're moving people off the coast now, and if you're in one of those zones, that order is not a suggestion.

The Gulf has been running warm, and a storm gaining power this close to shore leaves very little time to react. Coastal Alabama and the Florida Panhandle know this drill, and they also know how fast a strengthening system can outrun the forecast.

The next few hours decide where this hits and how hard. If you're on that coastline, leave while the roads are still open.

This is Liu Yang, reporting for HIT.