Hurricane Isaac made landfall in southeastern U.S. state of Louisiana late Tuesday, paving its way alongside the northern Gulf Coast, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
Hurricane Isaac moved on with top sustained winds of 80mph (about 130 kph), currently centered about 150 km southeast of Louisiana's largest city of New Orleans that suffered huge damage by Hurricane Katrina seven years ago, said the center.
Tropical storm Isaac became a Category one hurricane on Tuesday afternoon, the center said.
Earlier Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama warned residents living alongside the expected path of Isaac of significant flooding and other damages. He urged them to evacuate in time to safe grounds.
Meanwhile, hurricane warnings have been issued along the northern Gulf Coast. Forecasters said Isaac, which reached the strength of a hurricane by midday Tuesday, was expected to hit the northern Gulf Coast late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
The southern U.S. states of Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama are on high alert against the threat of Isaac. Thousands of residents living in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama were told Monday to leave their coastal houses.
Also, Florida, Louisiana and Alabama have already declared states of emergency over the weekend, fearing that Isaac might repeat the disaster that Hurricane Katrina brought to the Gulf coast just seven years ago.
According to the country's National Weather Service, New Orleans is also in the projected path that Isaac could cut through.
"That brings a high level of anxiety to the people of New Orleans." said Mayor Mitch Landrieu on Monday, yet stressing they were at the moment able to handle everything.
