Idalia gained hurricane strength early Tuesday as it headed toward Florida where it was expected to make landfall Wednesday as an ‘extremely dangerous major” storm. Image courtesy NOAA
Aug. 29 (UPI) — Idalia strengthened into a hurricane early Tuesday and, by late afternoon, was a Category 2 storm as it made its way toward landfall in Florida on Wednesday, forecasters said.
In its 5 p.m. CDT Tuesday update, the National Hurricane Center located the storm about 130 miles west-northwest of the Dry Tortugas and 240 miles southwest of Tampa, Fla. The storm was carrying maximum sustained winds of 90 mph and was moving north at 15 mph.
“Rapid intensification is likely through landfall, and Idalia is forecast to become an extremely dangerous major hurricane before landfall on Wednesday,” it said.
The storm is expected to move north Tuesday, followed by a faster north-northeast motion later in the day and into Wednesday, it said.
“The center of Idalia is forecast to move over the eastern Gulf of Mexico today, reach the Gulf coast of Florida within the Hurricane Warning area on Wednesday and move close to the Carolina coastline on Thursday,” it said.
A storm surge warning is in effect for Englewood northward to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay, while a hurricane warning is in effect for the middle of Longboat Key northward to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for Dry Tortugas, Fla.; Chokoloskee northward to the Middle of Longboat Key; West of Indian Pass to Mexico Beach and Sebastian Inlet Florida to South Santee River South Carolina.
A storm surge watch is in effect for Chokoloskee nortward to Englewood, including Charlotte Harbor and the mouth of the St. Mary’s River to South Sante River, S.C.
A Hurricane watch was in effect for Englewood to the middle of Longboat Key while a Tropical Storm watch was in effect for the lower Florida Keys west of the west end of the Seven Mile Bridge and South Santee River northward to Surf City, N.C.
The center is warning that the risk of it producing a life-threatening storm surge and hurricane-force winds along portions of the west coast of Florida and the Florida Panhandle as early as Tuesday was increasing, with both storm surge and hurricane watches in effect for portions of both regions.
The NHC said the combination of dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause dry areas near the coast to flood.
The Aucilla River could reach as high as 11 feet if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide, it said, adding that the Chassahowitzka River could hit 9 feet, and the Ochlockonee River, the Anclote River and Tampa Bay could reach 7 feet.
The Middle of Longboat Key may reach hit 5 feet with Englewood, Charlotte Harbor and Indian Pass may hit 4 feet and Chokoloskee and the Florida Keys potentially 2 feet.
Portions of Florida’s west coast, the Florida Panhandle and southern Georgia are forecast to receive between 3 to 6 inches of rain between Tuesday and Wednesday with isolated higher totals of 10 inches.
Water temperatures along the Gulf Coast are in the upper 80s, as measured by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. These warm temperatures may act as a type of fuel to strengthen the storm ahead of landfall along the coast.
Idalia is gaining strength as Hurricane Franklin approaches Florida from the southeast. The NHC says Franklin is expected to reach Bermuda by Wednesday. Its path will then curve along the East Coast.