It is the first major hurricane of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season that arrives early, as it crawls north through the Caribbean.
A National Hurricane Center update states that the storm intensified overnight, gaining maximum sustained winds of 115 mph, which makes it a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
Catastrophic impacts from storm surge inundation of 10 to 15 feet above ground level and destructive waves are expected somewhere between Aucilla River and Yankeetown, Florida. Life-threatening storm surge inundation is likely elsewhere along portions of the Florida Gulf Coast where a Storm Surge Warning is in effect. Residents in these areas should follow any advice or evacuation orders given by local officials.
There is the potential for destructive life-threatening winds where the core of Idalia moves onshore in the Big Bend region of Florida, with hurricane conditions expected elsewhere in portions of the Hurricane Warning area along the Florida Gulf Coast. Strong winds will also spread inland across portions of northern Florida and southern Georgia near the track of the center of Idalia where Hurricane Warnings are in effect. Residents in these areas should be prepared for long-duration power outages.
Areas of flash and urban flooding, some of which may be locally significant, are expected across portions of the west coast of Florida, the Florida Panhandle, and southern Georgia Tuesday into Wednesday, spreading into portions of the eastern Carolinas Wednesday into Thursday.
Heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Idalia is expected across portions of western Cuba and may produce areas of flash and urban flooding as well as landslides.
Hurricane Franklin is currently causing life-threatening surf and rip currents along the US east coast, a tropical storm in Bermuda, and a track presently looking to potentially impact Iceland.
Hurricane Idalia's path toward Florida's coast takes it through a steamy hot tub otherwise known as the Gulf of Mexico.https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/08/29/hurricane-idalia-…
Prior to striking Florida, it is also forecast to have intensified to mega-hurricane status. Floridians have only a short window of opportunity to get prepared.
Meanwhile, Idalia is forecast to become a hurricane early this week in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. There is an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge, hurricane-force winds, and scattered flash and urban flooding along or in portions of the west coast of Florida and the Florida Panhandle beginning as early as Tuesday. Folks in Florida should monitor Idalia and have a plan in place.
Month: June 1 to November 30
– noaa.gov
Length: six-months
Current: begins June 1st and ends November 30th
Peak: Sept. 10
– fema.gov
U.S. high tide flooding continues to break records. El Nino to bring more high tide flooding into 2024 https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/us-high-tide-flooding-continues-to-br…