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Good morning!
Tropical Storm Isaias has formed in the Gulf and is forecast to rapidly strengthen, and Okaloosa County is offering sandbags today. Okaloosa Commissioners asked the state to lead the Cinco Bayou water quality investigation, and a county official says the “sinkhole” near The Boardwalk was a collapsed cap over a punctured drainage pipe. Also, two school district bus driver job fairs and today’s weather outlook.
WEATHER
Tropical Storm Isaias forms in the Gulf, forecast to rapidly strengthen
Tropical Depression Nine strengthened into Tropical Storm Isaias early Wednesday and is forecast to rapidly strengthen over the next couple of days, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Isaias is expected to become a hurricane by Thursday and approach the U.S. northern Gulf Coast on Friday.
“Hurricane Watches will likely be required for a portion of the U.S. northern Gulf coast later today,” the National Hurricane Center wrote in its 4 a.m. Wednesday advisory.
There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect as of the advisory. The National Hurricane Center said interests along the U.S. northern Gulf Coast should closely monitor the progress of the system.
“Rapid strengthening is forecast over the next day or two, and Isaias is expected to become a hurricane by Thursday,” the National Hurricane Center wrote.
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GAMES
WordroW: October 7, 2026
WordroW is brought to you by Fort Walton Beach Chiropractic – keeping your mind sharp and your spine aligned, one game at a time.
Can you guess today’s 5-letter word in six tries?
WordroW is Get The Coast’s daily word puzzle featuring local words, places, and phrases from our community. You have six guesses to find the mystery word – green letters are correct and in the right spot, yellow letters are in the word but wrong position, and gray letters aren’t in the word at all.
WEATHER
Okaloosa County to offer sandbags Wednesday
Okaloosa County will offer sandbags to the public beginning at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, at two locations, according to the county:
- 714 Essex Road in Fort Walton Beach
- 1759 S. Ferdon Blvd. in Crestview
The next complete advisory from the National Hurricane Center is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday.
PROMOTED
Your family physicians. Still serving this community.
Thank You, Fort Walton Beach. We’re Still Here for You.
Thank you for the privilege and honor of allowing us to care for you and your families over the years. Serving the Fort Walton Beach community has been one of the most rewarding experiences of our careers.
We are pleased to share some good news: we are still practicing and continuing to serve the community.
Dr. John E. Loudermilk has cared for patients in the area since 2021, and Dr. Chris G. Pappas has since 2012. Together, we are excited to welcome patients to our new MDVIP-affiliated practice, a personalized family medicine clinic located at 4608 Opa-Locka Lane, Suite 300, in Destin, FL.
Whether you’ve been a patient for years or are looking for a new healthcare home, we’d love the opportunity to care for you. Schedule a free meet-and-greet to learn more about our patient-centered approach to medicine by calling 850.904.4940 or visiting mdvip.com/DestinDocs.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Okaloosa Commissioners ask state to lead Cinco Bayou water quality investigation
Okaloosa County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday morning to ask the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to lead a multi-agency investigation into the source of water quality problems in Cinco Bayou.
The request follows an Aug. 2 event that killed fish and crabs in the Fort Walton Beach bayou, and the recurring health advisories for elevated bacteria issued since.
Chairman Trey Goodwin said weekly testing by the county’s Natural Resources Team keeps returning high bacteria levels, and residents are asking what comes next.
“I think we’ve been treating, to some extent, some of the symptoms, but not always knowing what all the causes are, and this would help us get there,” Goodwin said.
Commissioners also voted to add the request to the county’s legislative priorities list.
TRAFFIC
Okaloosa official says ‘sinkhole’ near The Boardwalk was a collapsed cap over a punctured drainage pipe
The hole that closed an eastbound lane of Highway 98 in front of The Boardwalk on Monday night was caused by the collapse of a cap over a punctured county drainage pipe, Okaloosa County Deputy Administrator Jason Autrey told county commissioners Tuesday morning.
Autrey said a drainage culvert runs underneath Pier Road. When a utility line was installed, the pipeline was punctured and a cap was placed over top of it, he said.
“The water caused that cap to collapse,” Autrey said. “Road maintenance has put it back together. They’ve got the pipe in order to make that permanent repair.”
Autrey said the hole and the standing water on U.S. Highway 98 are “distinctly separate” issues. He described the standing water as a combination of the weather that came in, the construction that is underway with the new bridge and the conditions on site. The Florida Department of Transportation has three pumps at the site, according to Autrey.
Autrey said the term sinkhole “is a little interesting to use” for what happened at Pier Road, but the distinction does not change the hazard for drivers.
“A sinkhole has a technical definition that is very different than what we thankfully see up here in the Panhandle,” Autrey said. “However, it makes no difference when you have a hole, pothole, sinkhole, or otherwise in the roadway and you drive across it.”
WEATHER
Today’s weather outlook
TODAY: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Northeast wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Northeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
SCHOOL
Okaloosa County School District to host two bus driver job fairs in October
The Okaloosa County School District will host two bus driver job fairs this month where prospective applicants can test-drive a school bus and apply on-site.
The first job fair is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 12, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Transportation South Bus Barn, 1978 Lewis Turner Blvd. in Fort Walton Beach. The second will be held Thursday, Oct. 15, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Transportation North Bus Barn, 555 Anderson St. in Crestview.
According to the district, the events give community members a chance to learn more about careers with its Transportation Department and about becoming a school bus driver.
Attendees can test-drive a school bus, meet with Human Resources staff for on-site application assistance and learn more about paid training to earn a commercial driver’s license.
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Wednesday! Help us shape the future of local news and make a meaningful impact on your community. Click here to learn how you can support us!
p.s. What did you think of this morning’s newsletter? Hit the reply button and let me know!
Jared
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