Idalia strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane Tuesday afternoon as it approaches Florida as a dangerous major hurricane. Hurricane Idalia could become the 8th Gulf Coast major hurricane landfall since 2017.
As of the Tuesday 8 p.m. update, Idalia was 155 miles west-southwest of Tampa and 245 miles south of Tallahassee. Idalia had winds of 105 mph and was moving north at 16 mph.
“A northward to north-northeastward motion is expected through tonight, with Idalia’s center forecast to reach the Big Bend coast of Florida on Wednesday morning. After landfall, the center of Idalia is forecast to turn toward the northeast and east, moving near or along the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina late Wednesday and Thursday. Additional strengthening is forecast, and Idalia is expected to become a major hurricane tonight before it reaches the Big Bend coast of Florida. Idalia is likely to still be a hurricane while moving across southern Georgia, and possibly when it reaches the coast of Georgia or southern South Carolina on Wednesday,” NHC said.
Tropical storm conditions are affecting the Dry Tortugas, with a possibility of them extending to the Lower Florida Keys. Along the Florida Gulf Coast and the western coast of Florida, tropical storm conditions are anticipated to develop shortly.
These areas, as well as sections of the west coast of Florida, the Florida Panhandle, southeast Georgia, and the eastern Carolinas, should prepare for a significant rainfall accumulation of 4 to 8 inches from Tuesday through Thursday. There is also a chance of isolated higher rainfall amounts, possibly reaching 12 inches, especially near the northern Florida landfall zone.
According to the NHC, there is a danger of life-threatening storm surge along portions of the Gulf Coast, and the water may rise 8 to 12 feet above ground level in some areas.
A few tornadoes will be possible along the west central Florida coast through tonight, NHC’s forecast stated. The tornado threat will also spread northward into the Florida Big Bend tonight, and toward southeast Georgia and the coastal Carolinas Wednesday.
