Idalia impacts Florida
Article first published: Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023, 5 a.m. ET
Article last updated: Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023, 8 a.m. ET
According to the National Hurricane Center’s 8 am Wednesday advisory, there were several developments today: the system was given the name Category 3 Hurricane Idalia after it strengthened. It started out as a Category 4 hurricane and a hurricane but eventually became a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 120 miles per hour. Idalia is now impacting Florida.
Category 3 Hurricane Idalia is 10 miles south-southeast of Perry Florida, with maximum sustained wind of 120 mph. It’s moving 18 mph to the north-northeast.
"Idalia is forecast to turn toward the northeast and east-northeast, moving near or along the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina late today and Thursday." meteorologists state. "Although Idalia will weaken further now that the center is inland, it is likely to still be a hurricane while moving across southern Georgia, and near the coast of Georgia or southern South Carolina late today." They also said "Idalia is forecast to be a tropical storm while moving near the coasts of northeastern South Carolina and North Carolina tonight and on Thursday."
YESTERDAY (Tuesday):
Yesterday, there were many developments: first, Idalia started out as a Category 1 hurricane and a Category 2 hurricane but ended up as a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 120 miles per hour.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:
- Englewood northward to Indian Pass Florida, including Tampa Bay
- St. Catherine's Sound Georgia to South Santee River South Carolina
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:
- Middle of Longboat Key northward to Indian Pass Florida, including Tampa Bay
- Altamaha Sound Georgia to Edisto Beach South Carolina
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
- Bonita Beach northward to the Middle of Longboat Key
- West of Indian Pass to Mexico Beach
- Sebastian Inlet Florida to the North Carolina/Virginia border
- Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for:
- Bonita Beach northward to Englewood, including Charlotte Harbor
- Mouth of the St. Mary's River to St. Catherine's Sound Georgia
- Beaufort Inlet to Ocracoke Inlet North Carolina
- Neuse and Pamlico Rivers North Carolina
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:
- Mouth of the St. Mary's River to Altamaha Sound
- Edisto Beach to South Santee River South Carolina
A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline in the indicated locations. For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic,
Available at hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation.
Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.
A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life- threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline in the indicated locations. For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov.
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area.
Additional warnings could be required later today.
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND:
STORM SURGE: The combination of storm surge and tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...
Wakulla/Jefferson County, FL to Yankeetown, FL...12-16 ft Ochlockonee River, FL to Wakulla/Jefferson County, FL...8-12 ft Yankeetown, FL to Chassahowitzka, FL...7-11 ft Chassahowitzka, FL to Anclote River, FL...6-9 ft Carrabelle, FL to Ochlockonee River, FL...5-8 ft Anclote River, FL to Middle of Longboat Key, FL...4-6 ft Tampa Bay...4-6 ft Indian Pass, FL to Carrabelle, FL...3-5 ft Middle of Longboat Key, FL to Englewood, FL...3-5 ft Saint Catherines Sound, GA to South Santee River, SC...3-5 ft Englewood, FL to Bonita Beach, FL...2-4 ft Beaufort Inlet, NC to Ocracoke Inlet, NC...2-4 ft Mouth of the St. Mary's River to Saint Catherines Sound, GA...2-4 ft Charlotte Harbor...2-4 ft Neuse and Bay Rivers...2-4 ft Pamlico and Pungo Rivers...2-4 ft Flagler/Volusia County Line, FL to Mouth of the St. Mary's River...1-3 ft Mexico Beach, FL to Indian Pass, FL...1-3 ft Bonita Beach, FL to East Cape Sable, FL...1-3 ft South Santee River, SC to Beaufort Inlet, NC...1-3 ft Ocracoke Inlet, NC to Duck, NC...1-3 ft
The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the right of the center, where the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.
WIND: Hurricane conditions are occurring within the hurricane warning area in Florida and will spread into southern Georgia later today. Tropical storm conditions will continue through today within the tropical storm warning area along the Florida Gulf and west coasts.
Hurricane conditions are expected in the Hurricane Warning area along the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina later today and tonight, and possible within the Hurricane Watch area.
Tropical storm conditions are beginning within the tropical storm warning area along the northeastern coast of Florida and will spread into Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina through the day and into Thursday.
RAINFALL: Idalia is expected to produce a swath of 4 to 8 inches of rainfall with isolated maxima up to 12 inches from the Florida Big Bend through central Georgia and South Carolina, and through eastern North Carolina into Thursday. These rainfall amounts will lead to areas of flash, urban, and moderate river flooding, with considerable impacts.
SURF: Swells generated by Idalia are affecting the eastern and central Gulf coast from Florida to Louisiana, and will increase along the southeastern U.S. coast today. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
TORNADOES: A few tornadoes are possible this morning across west-central and northern Florida into southeast Georgia, with the tornado risk shifting toward the coastal Carolinas this afternoon and tonight.
Source: National Hurricane Center
This article was generated by the South Carolina Bot, artificial intelligence software that analyzes information from the National Hurricane Center and applies it to templates created by journalists in the newsroom. We are experimenting with this and other new ways of providing more useful content to our readers and subscribers. You can report errors or bugs to mcclatchybot@mcclatchy.com.
