Remnants of Isaias Become Powerful Cyclone Near Iceland

Hurricane Isaias became the only Atlantic hurricane to date in 2026 when it made landfall in Florida as a Category 2 storm on October 9. After delivering a rainy, windy blow to the U.S. Gulf Coast and drenching much of the Eastern Seaboard, the weather system had more in store, NASA reported.

Riding the jet stream east over the North Atlantic, Isaiass remnants developed into a powerful storm known as an extratropical cyclone. These low-pressure systems often feature asymmetrical, comma-shaped cloud patterns and can strike with hurricane-force winds, rain, and blizzard-like conditions. The VIIRS instrument on the NOAA-21 satellite captured an image of the cyclone brushing past Iceland on the afternoon of October 14.

During its journey, the systems air pressure plummeted by more than 50 hectopascals over a 24-hour period, according to reports. This was approximately double the criteria for explosive cyclogenesis, or bombogenesis. Some meteorologists believe the storm may have set a new October low for barometric pressure in Iceland after correcting for altitude, likely breaking a record that has stood since 1963.

The cyclone lashed Iceland with high winds as it grazed the coast. A gust of 205 kilometers per hour was recorded near Eyjafjallajokull volcano in the countrys south, while a small island just offshore saw sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour. Damaging winds extended into northern parts of the country, where residents also braced for sleet and snow.

Farther across the Atlantic, northwestern Scotland received gusts up to 90 kilometers per hour on October 14, according to news reports. This resulted in cancellations on several ferry routes.