Hurricane Isaias aims at Gulf Coast · Hormuz tanker attacks hit wartime high · Deadly drone strikes on Kyiv

Risk stays high into Thursday, Oct 8. Hurricane Isaias is bearing down on the northern Gulf Coast, tanker attacks around Hormuz hit a wartime record, and Russia struck Kyiv again overnight.

United States: Isaias became a hurricane early Thursday with 75 mph winds and is forecast to keep strengthening before landfall late Friday or early Saturday, most likely between Mississippi and the western Florida Panhandle. Hurricane warnings run from Ocean Springs, MS to the Bay/Gulf County line in Florida, storm surge warnings cover the mouth of the Mississippi to Steinhatchee, FL, and 3 to 7 inches of rain (locally 10) is expected, with flooding possible well inland across the Southeast.

Middle East: Maritime security sources counted at least 12 tanker attacks around Hormuz in the week to Oct 5, the most of the war, and strait traffic fell to a two-month low. Another tanker was hit by projectiles north of Qatar on Wednesday, with casualties reported. Iran and Oman agreed on coordinates for safe transit routes, and Qatar says indirect US-Iran talks in Doha made progress and will continue. In Yemen, the Saudi-led coalition says it hit 82 Houthi targets after deadly Houthi attacks on the Riyadh and Abha airports.

Ukraine: Russian drones hit residential buildings in Kyiv's Obolon and Desnianskyi districts Wednesday evening; police say six people died and 21 were hurt. A Thursday morning attack killed one more and injured 11.

Energy: About a quarter of US Gulf offshore oil output is shut in ahead of Isaias, and Brent rose above $102 on Thursday.

For USL readers: on the Gulf Coast from southeast Louisiana to Florida's Big Bend, finish storm prep today, know your evacuation zone and follow local officials. Everyone else, expect fuel price pressure and keep supplies steady without panic buying.