Idalia intensified to a Category 1 hurricane early Tuesday morning and is expected to strengthen before making landfall in Florida
A state of emergency in Florida is now in effect for 46 of its 67 counties as the state is preparing for Hurricane Idalia to make landfall over the state on Wednesday.
Idalia upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane early Tuesday morning as the storm passed Cuba, according to FOX Weather. It is expected to be become a major hurricane with “life-threatening” storm surge when it makes landfall on Florida’s western coast Wednesday morning.
As of Tuesday morning, Hurricane Idalia was located about 85 miles north of the western tip of Cuba and about 370 miles to the south-southwest of Tampa, FOX weather reported. Hurricane Idalia has maximum sustained winds of 75 mph with higher gusts, and it’s moving to the north at 14 mph.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference with state officials Tuesday morning.
“The storm is forecast to make landfall along Florida’s Big Bend tomorrow morning as a major hurricane. The National Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane warning for the Gulf Coast from Sarasota County up through Franklin County in the Panhandle,” DeSantis said.
In this Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, 9:41 am ET satellite image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Tropical Storm Idalia moves between Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, left, and Cuba, right. (NOAA via AP)
“There are over 20 shelters open, an additional 20 special needs shelters are mobilizing or on standby throughout the state of Florida. We have 5,500 National Guardsmen that have been activated,” he continued.
DeSantis added that 42 school districts have chosen to close for two days surrounding the storm. He nevertheless said that residents “still have time” as of Tuesday morning to make their final preparations for the storm.
