A state of emergency has been declared in more than 30 Florida counties as Tropical Storm Idalia is expected to hit the coast on Wednesday as a Category 2 hurricane – forecasters warn of storm surges, landslides and massive power outages.
Idalia is expected to develop into a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday and then turn northeast toward Florida’s west coast, where it could make landfall with winds up to 100 miles per hour.
Seawater as high as 11 feet could rush ashore along a vast stretch of Florida’s west coast, raising fears of destructive flooding.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for most of the state’s Gulf Coast on Saturday as the weather system tightens.
“This thing hasn’t even gotten to Cuba yet, and the water in the Gulf is very, very warm, and that’s going to give this thing some fuel to get even more speed,” DeSantis said.
Meteorologists are warning of possible flash flooding and landslides in the eastern Yucatan Peninsula and western Cuba, and Florida is preparing for a possible hurricane as part of Tropical Storm Idalia by midweek
The DeSantis Statement covers the Gulf Coast from the southwestern city of Fort Myers north to Panama City in the Panhandle.
The declaration covers 33 of the state’s 67 counties.
The hurricane center says the system has a 70 percent chance of developing into a tropical storm by Monday, and a 90 percent chance overall.
Currently, it would be called “Idalia” if no other tropical storm formed ahead of it. Forecast models don’t show the center of the storm approaching the areas of southwest Florida where deadly Hurricane Ian struck last year.
DeSantis said in a statement that he issued his executive order “out of great caution, to ensure that the Florida Division of Emergency Management can begin deploying resources and that Florida residents have ample time to prepare their families for a storm next week.” .”
“I encourage Florida residents to have a plan and make sure their hurricane supply gear is in stock,” he added.
On Sunday, Florida emergency officials urged residents to keep their vehicles’ gas tanks at least half full in case they need to be evacuated.
“This will ensure that you can evacuate dozens of miles inland to a safe location if needed,” the Florida Division of Emergency Management said on social media.
Florida has mobilized 1,100 National Guard members and “they have 2,400 flood vehicles and 12 planes that can be used for rescue and recovery operations,” said DeSantis, the Republican governor running for the GOP nomination for president.
“If you’re in the path of this storm, expect power outages,” he added.
“So please brace yourself, especially if this storm hits the Tallahassee area, there’s a lot of trees going down, power lines going down — it’s just going to happen.” Just be prepared and be able to handle it do what you have to do.’
Idalia could be heading towards Florida on Wednesday with winds up to 100 miles per hour, according to the latest forecasts from the Hurricane Center. That would make it a Category 2 hurricane
The National Hurricane Center warned Saturday that the system could bring dangerous storm surges, heavy rain and strong winds to Florida’s Gulf Coast and Panhandle by midweek
The hurricane center says the system has a 70 percent chance of developing into a tropical storm by Monday, and a 90 percent chance overall
Seawater as high as 11 feet could spill onto shore along a wide stretch of Florida’s west coast, raising fears of destructive flooding
Currently, it would be called “Idalia” if no other tropical storm formed ahead of it. Forecast models don’t show the center of the storm approaching the areas of southwest Florida where deadly Hurricane Ian struck last year
Forecast models assume the storm will turn northeast toward Florida, make landfall on the Gulf Coast north of Tampa near the Big Bend area, and then move diagonally across the state to enter the Atlantic Ocean near southeast Georgia to reappear.
So far this year, the US east coast has been spared hurricanes.
But out west, earlier in the month, Tropical Storm Hilary caused widespread flooding, mudslides and road closures in Mexico, California, Nevada and the north.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently said the 2023 hurricane season will be far busier than originally forecast, due in part to extremely warm sea temperatures. The season lasts through November 30th, with August and September usually at their peak.
So far this year, the US east coast has been spared hurricanes. But out west, earlier in the month, Tropical Storm Hilary caused widespread flooding, mudslides and road closures in Mexico, California, Nevada and the north
People watch the waters of Hurricane Hilary flowing through the Whitewater River on Dune Palms Road. near high school in La Quinta
Vehicles drive through flooding after heavy rains from Tropical Storm Hilary are seen in this aerial photo taken on Aug. 21, 2023
An aerial view of a maintenance vehicle clearing mud near stranded vehicles along a flooded road