A hurricane watch has been issued for portions of Florida’s Gulf Coast as the state braces for Tropical Storm Idalia, which is expected to strengthen to a hurricane and make landfall this week.
The hurricane watch stretches from Englewood to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay, according to the National Hurricane Center’s Sunday afternoon update. In addition to the hurricane watch, a tropical storm watch has been issued for the Gulf Coast of Florida from Englewood to Chokoloskee and the Dry Tortugas.
The storm is currently located about 100 miles east of Cozumel, Mexico, moving at around 3 mph with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, the hurricane center said.
Forecasters said they expected Idalia to become a hurricane on Tuesday in the Gulf of Mexico and then curve northeast toward the west coast of Florida.
Idalia could approach Florida on Wednesday with winds of up to 100 mph (160 kph), according to the latest forecasts from the Hurricane Center. That would make it a Category 2 hurricane.
The NHC issued a Storm Surge Watch, Hurricane Watch and Tropical Storm Watch for the parts of the Gulf Coast of Florida on Sunday. More watches and warnings may be issued for other areas along Florida’s Gulf Coast in the coming days.
Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie said storm surge was the number one cause of death during Hurricane Ian.
"Do not focus on just the cone. The cone is where the eye could go, but those hurricane-force winds and tropical-storm-force winds will extend far beyond what the cone represents," Guthrie said. "We will have storm surge warnings and watches in the coming days."
DeSantis said power companies will begin staging linemen on Monday. More than 1,000 National Guardsmen have been mobilized and can use high-water vehicles as well as aircraft for rescue and recovery efforts.
he latest data suggest Idalia should finally begin moving north by either late Monday or early Tuesday.
On that track, its center could arrive somewhere along Florida's Gulf Coast Wednesday. After that, most computer models suggest it would take a bend, tracking through Georgia and the Carolinas through Thursday or early Friday.
Read more
Premier League Soccer: Sheffield United 1-2 Manchester City F1 Dutch GP: Max Verstappen wins rainy Dutch GP
Sarah H
Also on site :
- Mark Wright apologises for ‘inappropriate’ post after Air India plane crash
- Wrestling back youth
- The Wildbirch Hotel Now Open in Downtown Anchorage