Tropical Storm Idalia is quickly approaching hurricane strength as Florida braces for a direct impact.
As of Monday, the storm is projected to make landfall as a stunning Category 3 hurricane and is on track to make landfall in northern Florida’s Big Bend region, which is the curve where Florida’s Panhandle merges into the Florida Peninsula. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has issued a state of emergency for 33 counties. Evacuation orders for several areas along the Gulf Coast have already been issued. These include Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, Pasco, Citrus, and Hernando. Officials are telling residents in the most vulnerable areas of the counties to leave their homes ahead of the storm.
One critical aspect that makes Idalia so dangerous is the temperatures fueling the storm, which have been hotter than usual. This means Idalia is encountering some of the warmest waters on the planet as it moves through the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in rapid intensification, CNN reports. This phenomenon happens when the wind picks up speed by at least 35 mph in a short time span.
Idalia’s intensity will likely be felt beginning on Tuesday, with the storm touching down on Wednesday. In addition to winds, storm surge remains a big concern, with 7 to 11 feet of water possible.
“Storm surge was the number one cause of death in Hurricane Ian, and you can evacuate by going tens of miles away, not hundreds,” Kevin Guthrie, the executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said in a Sunday press conference.
