Tropical Storm Idalia heads towards Florida (Not pictured): Overview of tropical disturbance – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by lavizzara
Caribbean Tropical Storm Idalia is predicted to become a hurricane on Monday and hit Florida’s Gulf Coast on Tuesday or Wednesday as a Category 3 storm, bringing with it a potentially fatal storm surge, damaging winds, and devastating rainfall.
Idalia is anticipated to rapidly intensify up until it makes landfall along Florida’s Big Bend, a naturally occurring storm surge-prone depression along the coast extending from Tampa to just south of Tallahassee, raising concerns about its expected strength. Storm surge of up to 12 feet was anticipated there.
With fewer than 48 hours until the storm reaches landfall, mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders have been issued for at least eight counties along Florida’s Gulf Coast, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has warned of many more to come.
Key ideas
Idalia is predicted to rapidly strengthen when it crosses over extremely warm water in the Gulf of Mexico, going from a powerful Category 1 hurricane on Monday night to a Category 3 storm in just 24 hours.
Tampa could be significantly impacted by a slight change in the track: Idalia could impact Tampa with greater winds and a bigger storm surge if it makes landfall further south than predicted.
well-defined impacts outside the cone Much of Florida’s Gulf Coast will be impacted by storm surge, wind, and rain. Immediately following the storm’s landfall, Florida, sections of Georgia, and even the Carolinas may see devastating winds and torrential rain.
According to a 5 p.m. ET report from the National Hurricane Center, the storm is about 35 miles off the western point of Cuba and is generating maximum sustained winds of 70 mph.
Idalia might show up as early as Tuesday.
From the Florida Keys to parts of the state’s western shore, Idalia’s effects will be seen as early as Tuesday. Starting as early as Tuesday morning, wind speeds will increase across the Florida Keys and the state’s southwest coast. By Tuesday night, when Idalia’s outer bands lap inland, gusty gusts are predicted over a significant percentage of Florida, including inland areas.
Up until Wednesday morning, when it makes landfall as a major hurricane near Florida’s Gulf Coast, the extent and intensity of the wind, rain, and storm surge throughout the state will only grow.
Idalia is projected to have an influence on a vast amount of Florida, although its harshest effects will be felt north of Tampa, through the Big Bend region, and into parts of the Panhandle.
As landfall approaches overnight into Wednesday morning, the situation in these locations will drastically deteriorate.
‘Our biggest concern’ is the potentially fatal storm surge from Idalia.
The Big Bend of Florida could experience a life-threatening storm surge of up to 12 feet, which will only be exacerbated by waves pushed by hurricane-force winds exceeding 100 mph.
One of a hurricane’s worst features is storm surge, which occurs when the ocean is blown onshore and is the main cause of storm evacuations.
Buildings in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, were uprooted from their foundations by a storm surge of 10 to 15 feet during Hurricane Ian. Idalia was expected to produce a surge of 8 to 12 feet, which director of the National Hurricane Center Michael Brennan labeled “our biggest concern.”
The extent of the risk was demonstrated by the fact that storm surge warnings extended throughout a significant portion of Florida’s Gulf Coast from just south of Naples northward all the way to the Panhandle near Apalachicola.
Depending on Idalia’s ultimate track, the Tampa Bay area might experience a storm surge of 4 to 7 feet above typical tidal levels when the storm approaches.
Before making landfall, Idalia is predicted to rapidly strengthen into a major storm.
Idalia will proceed into record-warm water and an atmospheric environment ready for quick intensification when it approaches the eastern Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday. For a tropical cyclone to intensify quickly, it needs access to lots of warm water, both at the surface and just beneath it, as well as little wind shear.
As Idalia moves down the Florida coast on Tuesday and Wednesday, wind shear is expected to gradually lessen across the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Idalia will be able to gather strength very swiftly up until the moment it impacts land because of the little wind shear and the extremely warm waters.
The storm’s intensity will depend on how long Idalia is able to stay over water in the eastern Gulf.
Florida ordered to evacuate
On Monday morning, mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders were issued in a number of Florida counties, which DeSantis said will grow.
For low-lying coastal communities and susceptible properties, mandatory evacuation orders were issued for Pasco, Manatee, Hernando, Taylor, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Sarasota, and Citrus counties on Monday.
Parts of the Tampa area are included in the Hillsborough County evacuation orders.
The Tampa International Airport made the announcement that all commercial operations would end at midnight on Tuesday. After assessing the damage the storm caused, the airport declared its intention to reopen Thursday morning.
On Monday morning, Governor DeSantis extended an emergency declaration to 46 of the 67 counties in Florida.
For the rescue and recovery operations, DeSantis gathered 1,100 National Guardsmen with high-water vehicles and airplanes. 300 officers from the Florida Highway Patrol are also available for deployment.
The governor stated that power firms will begin staging staff on Monday.
Georgia was getting ready for Idalia to arrive as well. The State Operations Center was turned on by Governor Brian Kemp on Monday.
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Born and raised in South Florida, Krystal is a recent graduate from the University of Miami with professional writing experience at the collegiate and national news outlet levels. She’s a foodie who loves all things travel, the beach, & visiting new places throughout Florida.