Tropical Storm Idalia likely to hit Florida as hurricane

Idalia will cross the Gulf of Mexico and make a landfall as a dangerous major storm near the Big Bend of Florida on Wednesday morning

The tropical storm Idalia is rapidly intensifying as it approaches Florida, and it could become a dangerous Category 3 hurricane as it strikes the coast with torrential rains, powerful gusts, and damaging storm surge.

Despite anticipates that the storm might not reach Mexican landfall, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that Idalia will cross the Gulf of Mexico and make a landfall as a dangerous major storm near the Big Bend of Florida on Wednesday morning, where ocean levels could top 10 feet above the normal tide.

Idalia, according to NHC, would increase the “threat of life-threatening storm surge and hurricane-force winds along certain sections of Florida’s west coast and the Florida Panhandle, potentially as early as Tuesday.”

The intensity forecasts are quite variable, ranging from a moderate hurricane to a major hurricane before the storm arrives on the northeast Gulf coast, said the NHC.

The storm is roughly 125 miles off the western point of Cuba, with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, according to an advisory from the hurricane center.

Idalia unleashed rain in Mexico’s Quintana Roo state, where famous coastal destinations like Cancun are located, throwing a dampening effect on one of the last weekends of summer holidays.

Hurricane Hilary, which briefly ascended to Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, slammed Mexico’s Baja California state on the Pacific coast just a week ago, dropping to a tropical storm. The incident resulted in one death and significant infrastructure damage.

Tropical Storm Idalia is expected to bring heavy rain from 3 to 6 inches, with isolated amounts up to 10 inches, across areas of the west coast of Florida, the Florida Panhandle, and southern Georgia from Tuesday into Wednesday.

Heavy rain could also cause flash floods in parts of the Carolinas on Wednesday and Thursday. Western Cuba may also receive 3 to 6 inches of rain, with isolated amounts reaching 10 inches.

According to the hurricane center, a hurricane watch has been issued throughout Florida’s Gulf Coast from Englewood to India Pass, including Tampa Bay.

“Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion,” the hurricane center said.

A tropical storm warning has also been issued for the Dry Tortugas in Florida, as well as a tropical storm watch for the Lower Florida Keys west of the Seven Mile Bridge.

Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in 33 counties in preparation for the storm’s arrival.

“If you are in the path of this storm, you should expect power outages, so please prepare for that,” DeSantis said.

According to DeSantis, 1,100 National Guardsmen have been mobilized with high-water vehicles and helicopters for rescue and recovery operations. The Florida Highway Patrol has 300 troopers on standby as well. According to the governor, power firms will also begin staging workers on Monday.

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