A powerful hurricane is looming over Florida as Idalia, a tropical storm that formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday, rapidly gains strength and size. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecasts that Idalia will reach Category 3 status by Wednesday morning, with winds up to 120 mph and a storm surge of up to 11 feet, posing a serious threat to the state’s west coast.
Idalia has been moving slowly and unpredictably over the warm Gulf waters, about 150 miles away from the western tip of Cuba. The storm currently has maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, but is expected to become a hurricane later Monday and a major hurricane by Tuesday night, according to the NHC .
The NHC has issued a hurricane watch for a large portion of Florida’s west coast, from Englewood to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Dry Tortugas, and a tropical storm watch is in effect for the lower Florida Keys west of the Seven Mile Bridge . The NHC cautioned of an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge, dangerous hurricane-force winds, and heavy rainfall along the coast.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 23 counties on Sunday and urged residents to prepare for the worst. He said the state has deployed swift water rescue teams and activated the National Guard to assist with evacuation and recovery efforts . He also advised people to stock up on supplies, secure their homes, and follow local guidance on evacuation orders .
“Idalia is a serious threat to our state and we cannot take it lightly,” DeSantis said at a press conference. “We have seen the devastating impacts that hurricanes can have in Florida, and we don’t want anyone to be caught off guard or unprepared.”
The NHC said Idalia could bring 3 to 6 inches of rain, with isolated amounts up to 10 inches, across parts of western Cuba, the Florida Keys, and the west coast of Florida from Tuesday to Wednesday. This could cause flash flooding and urban flooding in some areas . The storm could also spawn tornadoes in Florida on Tuesday night and Wednesday .
Idalia is not the only storm that is posing a threat to the U.S. Tropical Storm Franklin, which formed near Bermuda on Sunday, has strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 75 mph. Franklin is moving northward and could pass near or over Bermuda on Monday night or Tuesday morning, bringing strong winds, heavy rain, and high surf to the island . A hurricane warning is in effect for Bermuda .
The NHC said both Idalia and Franklin are expected to weaken after making landfall or passing over land. However, they could still bring hazardous conditions to inland areas as they move northward.
