Florida Gulf Coast braces for Hurricane Idalia

A NOAA satellite image of rapidly strengthening hurricane Idalia in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico early Tuesday morning. The storm brushed by the western tip of Cuba overnight. Florida is the next target for Idalia, with landfall expected Wednesday near Cedar Key. (NOAA Image)

Idalia has become a hurricane in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico early Tuesday morning, located 600 kilometres south southwest of Tampa Bay. Idalia has strengthened into a hurricane as of the most recent advisory, with 75mph (120 km/h). Idalia is moving faster this morning, towards the north at 22km/h.

The hurricane is forecast to deepen rapidly today, approaching the Big Bend region of Florida by early Wednesday morning, before crossing the state and emerging on the Atlantic Coast later in the day.

Forecasters at the National Hurricane Centre are expecting Idalia to strengthen to a major category 3 hurricane before landfall, with winds exceeding 120mph (195km/h). Isolated tornadoes are possible as well across interior portions of Florida and Georgia during landfall on Wednesday.

The official National Hurricane Center forecast track of Hurricane Idalia through the upcoming Labour Day weekend. (NHC Image)

Hurricane, tropical storm and storm surge warnings are posted for a large swath of the Florida Gulf Coast, as well as the east coast of the US from Florida northward into the Carolinas. Storm surge near landfall is expected to be in the 8 to 12 foot range, producing catastrophic flooding and damage along the immediate coast. Heavy rain, in excess of 200mm (8 inches) is likely across Florida into Georgia and South Carolina. Coastal flooding is likely as far north as Cape Hatteras on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Idalia is entering deep, warm waters in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, with rapid intensification expected Tuesday. Widespread evacuations have been ordered for coastal counties along the Florida Gulf Coast, and Governor Ron DeSantis has issued a state of emergency. 

Final note at this time, Idalia is expected to remain well south of New England and eastern Canada with no impacts forecast.