The National Hurricane Center says that Tropical Storm Idalia will turn into a hurricane by the time it gets close to western Cuba later today.
Some parts of Florida are becoming more likely to have life-threatening storm waves and dangerous winds.
On Sunday night, 33 counties in Florida were put in a state of emergency by Gov. Ron DeSantis. At the same time, the Florida Division of Emergency Management sent out helpers to deal with the storm.
DeSantis said from the Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee, “These things can change, so Floridians along the Gulf Coast should be careful even if they are outside the cone of the [forecast zone].” He said that 1,100 members of the National Guard had been called up and that command centers had been set up to handle power cuts and other damage.
As of 5 a.m. on Monday, August 28, 2023, there was a cone of doubt around Tropical Storm Idalia. (NHC)
In its 8 a.m. warning, Idalia is about 90 miles south of the western tip of Cuba and moving north at 8 mph with sustained winds of 65 mph and stronger gusts. It has winds that are as strong as a tropical storm for 70 miles.
“On the predicted track, Idalia is expected to move faster and turn north-northeast over the eastern Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday. By Wednesday, it is expected to reach the Gulf coast of Florida.” “Idalia is expected to become a hurricane later today, and by early Wednesday, it will be a dangerous major hurricane in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico.”
It is expected to move north over Cuba tonight and into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico early Tuesday morning. The new forecast says that by 2 a.m., it will have steady winds of 115 mph and gusts of up to 140 mph. Wednesday, it stopped off the coast of Florida, north of Tampa, with a cone of doubt stretching from Tampa to Tallahassee in the north.
“The bottom line is that there is a growing chance that the storm will get stronger quickly before it hits land,” Blake said. “It should be emphasized that even a small change in Idalia’s path could make a big difference in where it hits land in Florida, because its path runs parallel to the west coast of the state.”
There is a hurricane warning for Pinar del Rio, Cuba, and a tropical storm warning for the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico from Tulum to Rio Lagartos, including Cozumel, the Isle of Youth, Cuba, and Dry Tortugas, Florida.
From Englewood to Indian Pass, Florida, which includes Tampa Bay, a hurricane watch is in effect. A tropical storm watch is in effect from south of Englewood to Chokoloskee, Florida, and from the lower Florida Keys west of the Seven Mile Bridge.
From Chokoloskee to Indian Pass, which includes Tampa Bay, a storm surge watch is also in place.
Storm surge was the main cause of the deadly effects of Hurricane Ian, which hit southwest Florida last year.
The NHC says surge could be 7–11 feet higher than usual from the Aucilla River near Tallahassee south to Chassahowitzka in Citrus County, 6–9 feet higher from Chassahowitzka south to the Anclote River near Tarpon Springs, and 4–7 feet higher from the Anclote River south to Longboat Key and Tampa Bay. In Southwest Florida, the Florida Keys, and farther north and west along the Florida Panhandle, the storm surge is expected to be smaller.
“A dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause areas near the coast that are usually dry to be flooded by rising water moving inland from the coast,” says the forecast.
The storm is expected to move through the state faster than Ian did. However, rainfall totals could still be between 4 and 8 inches, with some areas getting as much as 12 inches. This could cause flooding in cities and flash floods in southeast Georgia and the eastern Carolinas.
Forecaster John Pendergrast from the National Weather Service in Melbourne said that Central Florida will start to feel the effects of Tropical Storm Idalia on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“That means there’s a chance of heavy rain and squalls in Central Florida,” Pendergrast said. “When we say that, we mean gusts with possibly tropical storm force of 35 to 45 miles per hour and squalls, especially on Wednesday.”
Pendergrast said that storms could also happen in the area.
“We’ve had tornadoes in Central Florida when similar systems moved west of the area,” Pendergrast said.
He said that people in central Florida should start getting ready for hurricanes and securing loose items outside their houses. They should also be ready for a possible flood in the area.
He agreed that people in the area should stay alert and know that the storm’s path and strength could change at any time.
“Small changes in the path could have bigger effects on the area, so we don’t know the hurricane’s path or strength for sure yet,” Pendergrast said.
Stay tuned to our website Usacharged.com for more updates.
