Tuesday recap: Hurricane Idalia now forecast to be Category 4 when it hits Florida Big Bend

WEDNESDAY LIVE UPDATES ON HURRICANE IDALIA ARE HERE

Hurricane Idalia's outer bands started being felt on Florida's southwest coast Tuesday afternoon, and the Category 2 hurricane continues to strengthen as it approaches the coast. It is now forecast to be a Category 4 storm when it makes landfall.

Sustained winds are now 120 mph as the storm moves north in the Gulf of Mexico, as of 2 a.m. Wednesday. Residents of Florida's Gulf Coast and Big Bend areas were urged to prepare for their final storm plans, whether those are evacuating or preparing their property.

At least 22 Florida counties were under some kind of evacuation orders Tuesday.

Here are some other developments:

• The system is expected to turn north-northeastward within the next 12 hours, make landfall along the northeastern Gulf coast, and then move northeastward to eastward on the southern side of a mid-level trough moving off the northeast U.S. coast.

• After landfall, Idalia is expected to move near or along the coast of Georgia and the Carolinas in 24-36 hours.

• Storm surge from the Wakulla/Jefferson County line to Yankeetown are expected to increasingly, from south to north, range from 12 to 16 feet, the National Hurricane Center predicted in its 1 a.m. update. For comparison, Hurricane Ian brought 10- to 15-foot storm surges to Lee County last year.

• State capital Tallahassee is now under "very rare" hurricane threat.

• Cedar Key and nearby locations of Florida's Big Bend are expected to be possible points for Idalia's Wednesday landfall.

• On the Gulf Coast, 22 counties are under a tornado watch until 6 a.m. Wednesday.

Check here for updates on the path and intensity of Hurricane Idalia as rain bands begin to lash and push surge toward Florida's coast.

Idalia timeline: When to expect tropical-force winds, storm surges, landfall

Idalia rapidly intensifies into a major hurricane

Idalia is expected to continue intensifying and be "an extremely dangerous Category 4 intensity" hurricane at landfall Wednesday, a 1 a.m. update from the NHC said.

The system is expected to turn north-northeastward within the next 12 hours, make landfall along the northeastern Gulf coast, and then move northeastward to eastward on the southern side of a mid-level trough moving off the northeast U.S. coast.

After landfall, Idalia is expected to move near or along the coast of Georgia and the Carolinas in 24-36 hours.

Catastrophic storm surge and destructive winds are expected in the Florida Big Bend region Wednesday morning when Idalia moves inland.

The National Hurricane Center is providing hourly position and intensity updates on Hurricane Idalina. Click here for the latest from the NHC.

— Grace Pateras, USA TODAY Network-Florida

Idalia forecast to be Category 4 hurricane at landfall

The National Hurricane Center said in its 11 p.m. advisory that Idalia's maximum sustained winds were at 110 mph, just below the threshold for a Category 3 major hurricane.

The NHC said the storm is expected to strengthen further, and that it could make landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida as a powerful Category 4 storm with winds at least 130 mph.

The NHC also increased its storm surge projections. Surge is expected to be 12-16 feet from the Wakulla/Jefferson County line to Yankeetown and 8-12 feet from the county line westward to the Ochlockonee River.

— Dan Rorabaugh, USA TODAY Network-Florida

Port Canaveral closes ahead of Hurricane Idalia

Port Canaveral closed at 9 p.m. Tuesday because of expected high winds from Hurricane Idalia.

At that time, the U.S. Coast Guard captain of the port set "Hurricane Condition Zulu" for Port Canaveral, indicating that sustained gale-force winds of at least 39 mph are predicted within 12 hours.

— Dave Berman, USA TODAY Network-Florida

22 counties under tornado watch ahead of Hurricane Idalia

The oncoming Hurricane Idalia placed 22 counties along Florida's Gulf Coast under a tornado watch until 6 a.m., the National Weather Service said.

Tornadoes are not unusual with a hurricane moving onto land. Tropical weather brings small, spinning supercells inside their outer bands, which are thunderstorms that can form twisters, according to Live Science.

— Dan Rorabaugh, USA TODAY Network-Florida

Tallahassee could see its first hurricane in modern history with Idalia

Though Tallahassee has been brought to its knees in the past by powerful storms, it has never been tested, at least in the modern era, by actual hurricane-force winds. That could change Wednesday morning as Hurricane Idalia makes landfall somewhere along or nearby the Big Bend coast.

Winds are hardly the only concern from Idalia as it moves into the Apalachee Bay, which is prone to storm surge because of the shallow waters and unique shape of the coastline.

Idalia could prove an unprecedented monster of a storm for the Big Bend. Since 1851, as far back as local weather records go, the Apalachee Bay, from Gulf County to Dixie and Levy counties, has never seen a Category 3 or higher hurricane.

— Jeff Burlew, USA TODAY Network-Florida

'Kind of used to it': Not everyone in Florida chooses to flee Hurricane Idalia

Brothers Trey and Chris Athey plan to ride out Hurricane Idalia in a white Chevrolet pickup truck.

They're from Texas, and they're in the crosshairs of Hurricane Idalia as it marches toward the Florida Gulf Coast with projected storm surge and ferocity that weather officials strongly warn will bring deadly consequences. But like many resilient people hunkering down in Florida right now, the Athey brothers aren't running away.

As of 6 p.m., they were parked in a Cross City gas station, but they’ll move if the hurricane projections do. They want to stay on the worst side of the storm.

“If we can keep breaking even and helping, we’ll be good to stay,” Trey Athey said.

— Christopher Cann, Douglas Soule and Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY

Hurricane Idalia approaches Tallahassee

As of the National Hurricane Center's 8 p.m. update, Idalia continues growing stronger with 105 mph maximum sustained winds. The center is now 155 miles west-southwest of Tampa and 245 miles south of Tallahassee.

With Hurricane Idalia intensifying and the danger levels increasing in Tallahassee, residents and college students are faced with the choice of riding out the storm in their homes and dorms or evacuating.

Hurricane Idalia comes during the first week of the fall semester for students at Florida State and Florida A&M universities. Both of the institutions, as well as Tallahassee Community College, have closed their campuses and cancelled classes through Friday due to the storm's expected impact and plan to reopen Tuesday.

— Tarah Jean, USA TODAY Network-Florida

Is Publix closing for Hurricane Idalia?

Publix adjusted the hours of several stores across Florida as Hurricane Idalia nears landfall on Florida's Big Bend.

Many Publix stores on the Gulf Coast closed at 5 p.m. Tuesday with plans to reopen at either 8 or 9 a.m. Wednesday. The affected stores reached from Suwanee and Gainesville south along the coast through Tampa and Sarasota.

— Dan Rorabaugh, USA TODAY Network-Florida

Will Disney World close for Hurricane Idalia?

As of Tuesday afternoon, Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld and various Central Florida attractions remain open and “operating under normal conditions.” Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said attractions would be open "most of the time" for the most part and would adjust based on weather conditions.

But not everything in Orlando is staying open as Hurricane Idalia approaches Florida.

— Jennifer Sangalang, USA TODAY Network-Florida

Hotels on Florida's Treasure Coast fill up as Gulf Coast residents flee Hurricane Idalia

Treasure Coast hotels were reaching full or near-full capacity Tuesday as Florida Gulf Coast residents fled from Hurricane Idalia. A diverse range of evacuees, including large families and elderly people, have been inquiring about Treasure Coast room availability and making reservations for the coming days.

The Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Fort Pierce, for example, has been fully booked since Monday, a representative said. “We have 94 rooms, and all have been booked because of people fleeing from the west coast who are evacuating because of the hurricane,” the clerk said.

— Ananya Tiwari, USA TODAY Network-Florida

'Life-threatening and catastrophic' storm surge expected as Idalia becomes Category 2 hurricane

Hurricane Idalia will be the first-ever major hurricane landfall in Apalachee Bay.

Life-threatening and catastrophic surge is certain Wednesday morning in the eastern bay and along the Nature Coast; critical details of local wind impacts remain in flux, but destructive winds are coming to the Big Bend.

Idalia, which became a Category 2 hurricane Tuesday at 5 p.m., will be the hurricane of a generation for the eastern Panhandle.

— Ryan Truchulet, USA TODAY Network-Florida

Lakeland becomes inland refuge for Floridian evacuees

Many residents of Florida’s West Coast booked into hotels in Lakeland after evacuating their homes as Hurricane Idalia approached. Hotels saw people starting to arrive on Monday, with many more arriving Tuesday to escape what could be devastating storm surge in some low-laying areas.

— Gary White, USA TODAY Network-Florida

Tornado warnings begin ahead of Hurricane Idalia

Tornado warnings are already popping up in Florida on Tuesday as Hurricane Idalia bears down on Florida. Tornadoes are typically one of the dangers that develop as hurricanes make landfall, and Idalia is no exception.

"A few tornadoes will be possible along the west-central Florida coast through tonight," the National Hurricane Center said Tuesday afternoon. "The tornado threat will also spread northward into the Florida Big Bend tonight, and toward southeast Georgia and the coastal Carolinas Wednesday."

Overall, tornadoes aren't uncommon during tropical cyclones (which is the umbrella term for all hurricanes, typhoons, and tropical storms): In fact, almost all hurricanes and tropical storms that make landfall in the United States spawn at least one tornado, provided enough of the storm's circulation moves over land, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

— Doyle Rice, USA TODAY

Preparing for Hurricane Idalia: Should you tape your windows?

As Floridians rush to make last-minute preparations for Hurricane Idalia, the typical parade of hurricane hacks are swarming social media. The list of Floridian hurricane hacks are endless. But some of them aren’t a good idea, regardless of if your neighbors, family or friends have told you they are.

For example: Filling your washing machine with ice to keep your refrigerated items cool in a power outage is unsanitary and could ruin your washing machine and sinking your lawn furniture in your pool could damage your furniture or even get rust in your pool. Some “tips” are really myths, not hacks.

Some Floridians believe that taping a big X across their windows before a major storm will keep them from shattering in hurricane-force winds. But that might not be the best idea, experts say.

— Lianna Norman, Palm Beach Post

Which Florida airports are closing for the storm?

Some of Florida's largest airports were still open Tuesday, most saying "no operational changes" have been announced. The best way to find out how to get where you're going to or front Florida is to call your airline, airport officials were saying.

As of Tuesday, Tampa International Airport and St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport are closed for Hurricane Idalia.

— Jennifer Sangalang, USA TODAY Network-Florida

Will Hurricane Idalia hit Florida twice?

At least one meteorological spaghetti model is showing the potential for a second impact from Idalia, this time off Florida's east coast in what a federal meteorologist said would be "a very rare situation." But if it occurs, it would take shape sometime next week.

"Right now, given the time that it’s a week or so out, (our) confidence is pretty low," said Kole Fehling, with the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Melbourne.

— Corey Arwood, USA TODAY Network-Florida

National Hurricane Center director warns of 'dangerous situation'

Michael Brennan, hurricane center director, said during an 11 a.m. Facebook live that there are "significant" rain bands brushing up against Fort Myers. This looks pretty significant! But it could become much more serious to the north.

“We have a very dangerous situation unfolding for the Florida Big Bend region,” Michael Brennan, hurricane center director, said just before noon.

The storm surge will be “difficult to survive,” along a long stretch of the coast, including Citrus, Levy, Taylor and Franklin counties, Brennan said.

— Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY

FSU, UF and other Florida public colleges and universities announce they will close campuses: List

Many colleges and universities and universities that began classes this week will be dealt a false start from Hurricane Idalia. The campuses and classes have different days they've decided to shut down based on predicted weather.

Closed campuses or canceled classes are happening here: USF, FGCU, FSW, UNF, FSU, New College and UF.

— Lianna Norman, USA TODAY Network-Florida

What is the dirty side of a tropical cyclone, hurricane or tropical storm?

A hurricane's “dirty side” is generally considered to be the right side of the storm, especially the upper-right quadrant in the direction the storm is heading. It tends to kick out the worst weather threats and winds to that side.

According to the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, the right-front quadrant of a storm in the Northern Hemisphere carries higher winds, waves and storm surge. Every low pressure or cyclone circulates internally in a counter-clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere, including hurricanes and most tornadoes. The left side tends to be much more calm.

— Samantha Neely, USA TODAY Network-Florida

Hurricane Idalia scrambles rocket launch schedules on Florida's Space Coast

Launch activity throughout the week on Florida's Space Coast has already begun to shuffle because of the storm.

For the time being, operations at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station remain unchanged, though preparations for the possibility of high winds and excess rain were beginning to get underway Tuesday morning. Late Monday, United Launch Alliance teams at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Launch Complex 41 began the hours-long process of standing down from a launch attempt of an Atlas V rocket originally set for liftoff Tuesday morning.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 launch of another batch of Starlink internet satellites set for Thursday from the Cape's Launch Complex 40 still appeared to be on the Eastern Range's schedule, though the company hadn't yet confirmed the Starlink 6-13 mission.

— Jamie Groh, USA TODAY Network-Florida

Sarasota and Manatee counties bracing for supermoon-aided Hurricane Idalia storm surge

The major impact from Hurricane Idalia for Sarasota and Manatee counties is expected to be storm surge, with 4 to7 feet of storm surge anticipated form the Anclote River south through the middle of Longboat Key and 3 to 5 feet anticipated for Sarasota county south to Charlotte Harbor, with 2 to 4 feet for the remainder of Charlotte and Lee County.

The highest surge will be around the time of high tide Wednesday and will be exacerbated by the supermoon.

— Earle Kimel, USA TODAY Network-Florida

Want a Publix hurricane cake? You can't have one anymore

In September 2022 when Hurricane Ian devastated parts for Florida, the Lakeland-based grocery chain came under fire after photos of hurricane-themed cakes from Publix bakeries went viral on Twitter. While social media users seemed split about the themed cakes as Ian neared Florida, the conversation prompted the chain to issue a statement, which ended the practice.

"It is our company policy to not produce bakery cakes that would make light of a natural disaster."

— Jennifer Sangalang, USA TODAY Network-Florida

Governor DeSantis, Florida Emergency Operations Center leaders 'implore' people to finish hurricane plans

Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a 9 a.m. press conference from Tallahassee that Hurricane Idelia is on the way in the next 24 to 48 hours, and will cause major wind and water damage. Winds are expected on the west coast of Florida by late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.

"There's a good chance you're going to lose power. Just be prepared for that," DeSantis said.

“The storm is going to be here soon,” said Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. “I implore you to finalize your disaster preparedness actions right now.”

As Idalia churns a path parallel to the Gulf Coast and in a beeline for the Big Bend, state workers in Tallahassee are assembling a recovery team to deploy to the 46 counties under a declared state of emergency.

At a briefing Tuesday morning DeSantis said:

• 25,000 electrical linesmen are already in staging areas, and another 15,000 more expected later this week.

• 5,000 National Guardsmen are activated,

• 580 search and rescue workers in eight teams are mobilized,

• 1,100 generators are ready for deployment,

• 400,000 gallons of fuel has been reserved for post recovery

• 200 ambulances are ready to surge into an affected area.

— James Call, USA TODAY Network-Florida

Storm chaser Reed Timmer, 'extreme' meteorologist, is giving updates from Florida

Dr. Reed Timmer was providing live updates Tuesday morning from Cedar Key.

"A life-threatening storm surge up to 12 feet is likely with Hurricane Idalia. Authorities want residents and visitors to evacuate by 4 pm today. Bridges will likely be destroyed."

Timmer describes himself as an extreme meteorologist, inventor and storm chaser intercepting the most powerful storms on the planet.

Tweets by ReedTimmerAccu

— Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY Network-Florida

What toll roads have had tolls lifted?

The Florida Department of Transportation and Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise stopped collecting tolls at 4 a.m. Tuesday. The tolls will resume at noon Sept. 5.

These are the roads that are now toll free:

Hillsborough County

• I-4 Connector

• Selmon Expressway (S.R. 618)

• Veterans Expressway (S.R. 589)

• Suncoast Parkway (S.R. 589)

Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties

• Suncoast Parkway (S.R. 589)

Lake, Sumter counties and portions of Orange County

• Turnpike Mainline (I-75 to I-4)

Pinellas County

• Pinellas Bayway (S.R. 679)

• Sunshine Skyway Bridge (U.S. 19)

— Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY Network-Florida

8 a.m. National Hurricane Center update: Idalia expected to 'rapidly intensify'

Changes associated with the 8 a.m. advisory include:

• Hurricane Idalia is already strengthening, with maximum sustained winds jumping to 80 mph over the last three hours.

• Pressure has dropped to 977 mb, an indication strengthening is taking place.

• Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles.

— Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY Network-Florida

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to give an update at 9 a.m. Tuesday

Gov. Ron DeSantis will address the media today on the path and outlook of Hurricane Idalia. He will be delivering remarks from the Florida Emergency Operations Center and will be joined by Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie, senior military adviser Maj. Gen. John Haas and Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue.

Florida's capital city, Tallahassee, is under threat from Idalia

The National Weather Service - Tallahassee wants people to be paying close attention today.

The storm's current National Hurricane Center forecast track still takes it to the east of the tree-filled capital city, but that could change as models and the track have shifted further west overnight. While Tallahassee is under a Hurricane Watch and Tropical Storm Warning, it's neighboring coastal counties face a potentially deadly storm surge.

— William L. Hatfield, USA TODAY Network-Florida

What counties are being evacuated in Florida?

There are 22 Florida counties under evacuation orders as of early Tuesday morning.

What you should ask if you live in Florida when it comes to hurricanes:

• Do you live in an evacuation zone?

• Do you live in a low-lying, flood-prone area?

• Do you live in a mobile home?

• Do you live on the barrier island?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, then officials may ask you to evacuate ahead of a storm. How to find your zone.

— Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY Network-Florida

WeatherTiger meteorologist provides detailed forecast of Florida impacts

Details of winds and surge, and questions were answered by the forecaster.

— Ryan Truchelut, USA TODAY Network-Florida

5 a.m. hurricane update: Idalia intensifies to hurricane strength before sunrise Tuesday

Idalia strengthened into a hurricane by 5 a.m. Tuesday and is forecast to become a Category 3 storm before making landfall Wednesday in Florida's Big Bend region.

There is a danger of "life-threatening storm surge" along portions of Florida's Gulf Coast. Some areas could see storm surge of 8 to 12 feet.

Hurricane conditions are expected within the hurricane warning areas in Florida by late today or Wednesday, with tropical storm conditions beginning today.

— Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY Network-Florida

Signs point to Cedar Key, Florida, with Jim Cantore's arrival

Sunday posts on X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter that The Weather Channel meteorologist Jim Cantore would show up in Florida were confirmed Monday. Cantore is long known for being in the middle of major storm events.

An X user whose handle is Lt. Col. William Reid tweeted a photo from a Cedar Key restaurant, presumably Steamers: "Ran into the Jim Cantore while having dinner."

Photos of the restaurant's page on Facebook show a "dollar bill wall," similar to the dollar bill wall in Reid's tweet. Cantore has quite a history in Florida storms.

— Jennifer Sangalang, USA TODAY Network-Florida

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Hurricane Idalia storm surges a worry Tuesday along Florida Gulf Coast