Tropical Storm Isaias formed in the Gulf from Tropical Depression Nine on Wednesday and is forecast to rapidly strengthen, reaching the U.S. Gulf Coast Friday — potentially as the Atlantic Basin's first hurricane of the season and its ninth named storm, with under two months left before the season ends Nov. 30. Watches already in effect: hurricane watch from Bay St. Louis, Mississippi to Indian Pass, Florida; tropical storm watch west of Bay St. Louis to the Jefferson/Plaquemines Parish line and east of Indian Pass to the Aucilla River; storm surge watch from the mouth of the Mississippi to Yankeetown, Florida. Forecast rainfall is 3 to 6 inches on the central Gulf Coast, up to 10 inches in spots, with urban and isolated river flooding possible; some models carry the moisture to the Ohio Valley and Northeast by midweek. Florida has declared a state of emergency for 25 counties. If you're in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, or northern Florida, the actionable item is the hurricane center's own: monitor updates and have your plan in place now, not Friday. The article also notes the "I" names get retired at a disproportionate clip — Ian, Ida, Irma, Irene — which I mention only as a meteorological fact and not as commentary on this storm's ambitions.