The Category 3 storm has grown into a major hurricane — the first of an unusually quiet Atlantic season — and is expected to make landfall Friday night The storm has prompted mandatory evacuations and warnings of life-threatening storm surge, destructive winds, and flooding. Key points and original sources are listed below.

• The Category 3 storm has grown into a major hurricane — the first of an unusually quiet Atlantic season — and is expected to make landfall Friday nightS1

• The storm has prompted mandatory evacuations and warnings of life-threatening storm surge, destructive winds, and flooding. Fueled by exceptionally warm Gulf waters, it will be the first hurricane to strike the US mainland since 2024.S2