State of Emergency in Florida: When could Hurricane Idalia hit land? Where are Hurricane Warnings issuded?

The peak of hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin is still two weeks away but there has been a burst of storm activity over the past week. Four named storms developed over a period of 39 hours, a record for the most in the shortest time span. Now another storm is brewing that is forecast to threaten the Gulf Coast of Florida.

Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for much of Florida’s Gulf Coast due to the weather system developing in the Yucatan Channel. On Sunday, Tropical Depression 10 strengthened into Tropical Storm Idalia and is expected to evlove into a Hurricane by Tuesday morning. As it moves over the extremely warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico it could reach Category 3 status before making landfall sometime early Wednesday.

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State of Emergency in Florida: When could Idalia hit land?

Tropical Storm Idalia has been mostly stationary between the Yucatan peninsula and western Cuba where forecasters are warning of possible flash flooding and landslides. The lack of movement has been mainly due to Hurricane Franklin currently churning off the east coast of the Bahamas heading in the direction of Bermuda.

As Franklin moves northeast out into the Atlantic, Idalia will begin to move north. How fast it moves north will help determine how much strength the storm can gain from the extremely warm waters in its forecast path before making landfall. Another factor though, wind shear, could limit its ability to intensify.

It is forecast to become a Category 1 hurricane by Tuesday morning and could develop into a Category 3 a mere 24 hours later. Landfall is expected on Wednesday morning with the forecast path cone centered over the Big Bend. Despite this the National Weather Service warns that hazardous conditions can occur outside the cone and the Florida Division of Emergency Management has issued Tropical Storm and Hurricane Warnings for several counties.

The state of emergency is in place for 33 counties in the state. Floridians can expect periods of heavy rainfall and gusty winds. As well hazardous marine and beach conditions could be possible.

Free sandbags are available at distribution sites in the affected areas to help protect homes and properties from flooding.

Idalia path: evacuation orders

Authorities across the state had begun issuing mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders for residents that could be affected by Idalia. Here are the ones listed so far.