Today, the U.S. National Hurricane Center has issued a Hurricane Watch for portions of the northern Gulf Coast of Florida from Indian Pass to Yankeetown. Tropical Storm Idalia, currently located in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, is expected to become a hurricane before making landfall over the affected areas early tomorrow morning.
The storm’s practices organization is atypical of a hurricane, having acquired its most recent development center near the southwestern tip of the Florida Peninsula. Idalia has exhibited a cyclonic rotation since its formation on August 17th, and the National Hurricane Center is monitoring the storm closely.
Meanwhile, the Florida Department of Emergency Management has released special warnings to people living in the affected areas. The department has advised them to prepare for flooding and a potential hurricane. High winds, coastal storm surge, and dangerous rip currents can all be expected, and residents are urged to make plans to take shelter if heavy damage is expected in their areas.
The state’s governor, Rick Scott, has also declared a state of emergency in the 26 counties that would be affected by Tropical Storm Idalia. This declaration allows the state to utilize emergency resources in order to keep citizens safe.
At the moment, the projected path of Idalia shows that the storm is expected to make landfall around the western Florida panhandle late tomorrow afternoon. Its current intensity is suggesting that the storm will strengthen into a hurricane just before it makes landfall, putting it on track to become the most powerful hurricane to have struck the region this season.
The National Hurricane Center is strongly recommending that residents of the affected areas to follow the guidelines of local governments and participate in the evacuation plan if such is put in place. This is a serious and potentially dangerous storm, and it is important that anyone in the way of Idalia’s projected path take the necessary precautions to protect themselves if necessary.