“This is crunch time right now. We are going to be hit with a major hurricane,” Gov. Ron DeSantis warned as he urged Floridians to heed evacuation warnings. “You really got to go now.”
Idalia’s landfall strength and storm surge could reach once-in-a-lifetime levels along Florida’s Big Bend region, which could be swamped by a 10-15 foot surge, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Idalia is expected to inundate parts of Florida’s Big Bend region with a “catastrophic” storm surge between 12 to 16 feet — higher than an average city bus, the agency said.
“There is the potential for destructive, life-threatening winds where the core of Idalia moves onshore in the Big Bend region,” the hurricane center said.
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Hurricane Idalia on the verge of reaching Category 3 status
From CNN’s Caitlin Kaiser
An aerial view of the commercial area around Cedar Key Fishing Pier ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Idalia, in Cedar Key, Florida, on August 29.
Marco Bello/Getty Images
Hurricane Idalia continues to strengthen with maximum sustained winds speeds of 110 mph, according to an update from the National Hurricane Center at 10 pm EDT.
Idalia is now only 1 mph away from reaching Category 3 status, which has a minimum threshold for wind speeds of 111 mph.
The National Hurricane Center is now issuing hourly updates on Idalia as it approaches landfall Wednesday morning.
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A marina owner is boarding up as he plans to ride out the storm
From CNN’s Sara Smart, John Berman and Bill Weir
The owner of a marina in Florida’s gulf coast town of Steinhatchee told CNN he is choosing to stay put despite local evacuation orders.
“We’re all worried and that’s why we’re staying here – to see if there’s anything we can do to protect what we have,” Chase Norwood, owner of Chase-N-Fish Charters at Sea Hag Marina, told CNN Tuesday night.
Norwood said the marina is his family’s livelihood, leaving him determined to preserve it as much as possible.
They said they have done all they can to prepare for the incoming storm, including boarding up the marina and moving equipment to higher ground. He is hoping floodwaters and storm surge are less severe than expected.
Norwood’s sister, who is pregnant and could give birth any day now, has evacuated the area and gone to Gainesville, he said.
Last year, Norwood helped with storm damage in Fort Meyers after Hurricane Ian hit the area.
“We saw stuff we didn’t know a storm could do and it was an eye-opener,” he said.
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Tornado watch is now in effect for Tampa and surrounding areas
From CNN’s Caitlin Kaiser
Sandbags in front of a house ahead of Hurricane Idalia in St. Petersburg, Florida, on August 29.
uan Manuel Barrero Bueno/Bloomberg/Getty Images
A tornado watch is now in effect for more than 7 million people across central and western Florida, including Tampa, until 6:00 a.m. ET Wednesday.
Rain bands from Hurricane Idalia bring the threat for wind gusts of up to 75 mph, marble-sized hail and a few tornadoes overnight as well as into the early morning hours.
Weak and short-lived tornadoes are often associated with the outer bands of landfalling tropical systems.
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Evacuees in northern Florida worry for their community's future
From CNN’s Sara Smart
As parts of Florida prepare for the impact of Hurricane Idalia, more residents have stayed than have evacuated in Steinhatchee, an evacuee told CNN.
Lori Leigh Batts-Bennett has already evacuated her condo in Steinhatchee to Jacksonville, Florida and worries for those that stayed behind. Steinhatchee is about 70 miles west of Gainseville.
The town does not have the infrastructure to handle these storms, Batts-Bennett explained on the brink of tears. She said she and others have started forming plans for how to help tomorrow when it’s safe, mentioning they have people with air boats on standby.
“I fear that if this is catastrophic, the people that make Steinhatchee will not be able to be in Steinhatchee because they won’t be able to rebuild,” she said.
“The landscape of Steinhatchee will be changed forever,” she added.
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Some Pinellas County residents say they’re riding out the storm despite evacuation order
From CNN’s Gloria Pazmino and Ila Wilborn in Clearwater Beach
Dave Gentry, a Clearwater Beach resident, was joined by his son and a friend Tuesday evening, hours before the expected landfall of Hurricane Idalia.
Despite the warnings to evacuate, Gentry said his home is on high ground and that he believes there will be no significant damage to his immediate area.
Pinellas County has a mandatory evacuation for Zone A and all mobile home residents in effect. The county covers the coastal cities of St. Petersburg and Clearwater.
Clearwater Beach was empty in the early evening except for a few swimmers and a lone surfer, who braved the waves as the wind picked up.
It is approximately 2.5 miles long and sits along the barrier island along the Gulf. Much of the beach is lined with hotel and residential properties.
For hours on Tuesday, hotel workers lined sandbags along the edge of the beach and along the doors to hotel rooms where water could potentially enter.
Clearwater is forecast to see a storm surge between 4-7 feet.
Ryan Marc, who lives in nearby Palm Harbor said he’s prepared to ride out the storm in town.
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The latest hurricane advisory was just released. Here are some cities and towns in Idalia's path
People board up a window in Tampa, Florida, on August 29, as the city prepares for Hurricane Idalia.
Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/AFP/Getty Images
The National Hurricane Center has released its 8 p.m. ET hurricane advisory ahead of Hurricane Idalia’s expected touchdown Wednesday in Florida before it churns through Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina and heads out over the Atlantic.
Englewood northward to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay is under a storm surge warning, which means that “there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising moving inland from the coastline,” according to the advisory.
Dry Tortugas, Chokoloskee northward to the middle of Longboat Key, west of Indian Pass to Mexico beach and the Sebastian Inlet in Florida to Surf City North Carolina are under tropical storm warnings, which indicates that “tropical storm conditions are expected,” according to the National Hurricane Center.
Bonita Beach northward to Englewood, “the mouth” of the St. Mary’s River to South Santee River in South Carolina, the Beaufort Inlet to Drum Inlet in North Carolina as well as the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers in North Carolina are under storm surge watches. That means storm surge conditions could be seen over the next 48 hours, the advisory explained.
Portions of St. Mary’s River to Edisto Beach South Carolina are under a hurricane watch, which means “hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area,” the hurricane center says.
The Lower Florida Keys west of the west end of the Seven Mile Bridge, north of Surf City North Carolina to the North Carolina and Virginia border as well as Pamlico and Abemarle Sounds are under tropical storm watches. This means tropical storm conditions could be seen within 48 hours, the advisory says.
The National Hurricane Center noted that “additional warnings will likely be required tonight or on Wednesday.”
This is Idalia’s forecasted path as of 8 p.m. ET.
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4,000 people incarcerated in Florida have been relocated, corrections department says
Roughly, 4,000 people incarcerated in Florida were evacuated or relocated to facilities better equipped to handle the storm, according to a news release from the Florida Department of Corrections.
The following facilities have been evacuated:
Bradenton Bridge
Bridges of Cocoa
Bridges of Jacksonville
Bridges of Lake City
Bridges of Orlando
Bridges of Santa Fe
Cross City Work Camp
Dayton Beach CRC
Desoto Work Camp
Ft. Pierce CRC
Hardee Work Camp
Hernando CI
Jacksonville Bridges
Kissimmee CRC
Lancaster Work Camp
Largo Road Prison
Madison Work Camp
Miami North CRC
Opa Locka CRC
Orlando Bridge
Orlando CRC
Panama City CRC
Reality House
Re-entry of Ocala
Shisha House
St. Pete CRC
Suncoast CRC
TTH Bartow
TTH Dinsmore
TTH Kissimmee
TTH Tarpon Springs
Tallahassee CRC
Tomoka CRC
Tomoka Work Camp
Turning Point
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Tampa General and other area hospitals prepare for Idalia storm surge
From CNN’s Ella Nilsen
Workers set up a fence to prevent flooding at Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, Florida, on August 29, as the city prepares for Hurricane Idalia.
Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/AFP/Getty Images
Major hospitals in the Tampa and St. Petersburg area are preparing for a significant storm surge from Hurricane Idalia.
Tampa General Hospital – located in the Davis Islands neighborhood in a surge-prone area of the city — has gone as far as to construct a water-impermeable barrier around parts of its campus.
The more than 1,000-bed hospital is expected to be finished assembling the AquaFence barrier — which can withstand up to a 15-foot storm surge — around its vulnerable areas by the end of the day Tuesday, hospital spokesperson Karen Barrera told CNN in an email.
Tampa General will remain open for emergency care and is equipped with a central energy plant that is located 33 feet above sea level and can withstand the impact and flooding of a Category 5 hurricane, housing both electricity generators and boilers for hot water, Barrera said.
Barrera added the hospital has activated its incident command center to keep operating, and as a Level 1 trauma center, Tampa General “stands ready to meet the needs to patients throughout the state who require care after the storm has passed.”
Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, a pediatric hospital in St. Petersburg, said it isn’t currently moving any patients, having built a new building in 2010 to withstand hurricane-force winds.
Most of the hospital’s mechanical areas are on its fourth floor to protect from flooding, and the hospital is capable of having its own potable water and can power itself without being connected to the power grid, if needed, spokesperson Danielle Caci said in an email.
“We are a 259-bed hospital and the largest freestanding pediatric hospital in the area so (we) are prepared to take in patients in need of medical care,” Caci said.
BayCare, a hospital system that owns 16 acute-care hospitals in the Tampa Bay area, also said it didn’t anticipate any “operational changes” other than closing some ambulatory services.
“We have ‘hardened’ our facilities to be as prepared as possible for hurricane season,” said BayCare spokesperson Lisa Razler in an email to CNN, adding the hospitals aren’t moving patients at this time “and we don’t expect that to change.”
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Idalia rapidly intensifies and is "likely to become a major hurricane soon," hurricane center says
The storm is still a Category 2 hurricane but nearing the Category 3 threshold for wind speeds, which is 111 mph.
Idalia is expected to strengthen more ahead of its landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region Wednesday morning.
The National Hurricane Center had warned that rapid intensification was likely in this storm — a phenomenon that is becoming more common as ocean temperatures warm. In order to meet the definition, a storm’s sustained wind speeds must increase by at least 35 mph in 24 hours or less.
The hurricane’s rapid intensification was aided by the Gulf of Mexico’s extremely warm waters. It’s just one of the ways experts say is making hurricanes more dangerous, as warmer waters allow for storms to strengthen quicker.
Bed and breakfast manager explains why she's staying in Cedar Key despite evacuation warnings
From CNN’s Sara Smart
A man walks by, where businesses and residents were preparing for potential flooding, ahead of the expected arrival of Hurricane Idalia in Cedar Key, Flaorida, on August 29.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP
A manager of a bed and breakfast business in Cedar Key, Florida, said she is staying in town despite evacuation warnings.
Heather Greenwood, the manager of Cedar Key Bed & Breakfast, told CNN that while she’s concerned about the storm, she’s not going anywhere. Greenwood said she not only wanted to provide a place for news crews to stay but wanted to help others she knows are staying in town.
Greenwood said the house is at the highest point on the island and has been secured. “Being vigilant at this point is the main part,” Greenwood said.
She said she filled all of the bathtubs with water in preparation and stocked up on drinking water and food.
Power and water are being shut off for the area at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday as a precaution, according to Greenwood.
The Mayor of Cedar Keys Heath Davis earlier on Tuesday implored residents to leave ahead of Idalia.
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Crystal River residents have largely followed evacuation orders, city manager says
From CNN’s Sara Smart
Residents of Crystal River, Florida, have heeded the evacuation orders ahead of Hurricane Idalia, a city official said.
City Manager Douglas Baber said the entire city is in a flood zone and officials expect anywhere from 6 to 12 feet of storm surge.
“I think they saw stuff during Ian that made them think twice about leaving their boats out,” Baber said in regard to residents who have taken official’s orders and removed their boats and prepared their homes.
Baber explained that once the storm passes the next step is to “get back to normal as quickly as possible.”
Crystal River, a city of about 3,500 people is in Citrus County, Florida. It’s part of Big Bend, where Idalia is expected to make landfall early Wednesday.
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Florida universities suspend classes due to Hurricane Idalia
From CNN’s Amy Simonson
A number of Florida university campuses are suspending operations Wednesday due to Hurricane Idalia.
The University of Central Florida, located in Orlando, said in a statement posted Tuesday that students, faculty and staff should remain indoors and off roads during inclement weather.
Normal operations are scheduled to resume Thursday.
The University of North Florida in Jacksonville has also canceled classes and has suspended operations Tuesday and Wednesday.
“While exact impacts are unknown, the National Weather Service has reported the possibility of tornadoes in Northeast Florida beginning tonight and tropical storm force winds throughout the day tomorrow,” a UNF statement said.
Florida A&M University Tallahassee main campus,Florida State University and the University of Florida also announced closures and class cancelations on Monday.
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"Turn around, don’t drown”: Tampa police chief tells residents ahead of Hurricane Idalia’s arrival
From CNN’s Amy Simonson
Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw warned residents Tuesday that storm surge and standing water continue to be a threat to the city, as the effects of Hurricane Idalia are already being felt up and down the Florida Gulf Coast.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, who also spoke at the briefing, warned residents that although the storm will be pushed out by morning, they should be prepared for the surge that will come in the afternoon.
Castor said the King Tide will create a tidal surge that will move in around noon, and that it could continue until as late as 5 p.m. ET. King Tide is a term used to describe exceptionally higher than normal tidal cycles that typically occur during a new moon or a full moon when the moon makes its closest pass to the Earth, according to CNN meteorologist Haley Brink.
Castor told residents not to return to their homes until they know what areas have been flooded.
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Pets will be allowed in hotels as people leave Florida evacuation zones, governor says
Jeff Wigsten, right, cuts plywood to help cover a business' windows as his dog Blue waits in his car, ahead of the expected arrival of Hurricane Idalia, on August 29, in Cedar Key, Florida.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP
Florida residents evacuating ahead of Hurricane Idalia will be able to bring their pets with them to hotels, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday.
He said officials have been working with the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association to allow animals.
DeSantis said all counties also have at least one pet-friendly shelter.
“Please take care of your pets. Very, very important. They need you in this type of circumstance,” he said.
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Why some Florida residents aren't evacuating, even though they've been warned to do so
From CNN’s Sara Smart and Sharif Paget
As Hurricane Idalia makes way to the Florida coast, some residents have evacuated their towns while others have not.
Janalea England lives in Steinhatchee and has been through many hurricanes as she’s lived on the coast most of her life. This time she says she isn’t evacuating.
Worries of not being able to get back into the town and wanting to stay with family members who are also not evacuating is what’s keeping England to stay put.
Krystal Boyle lives in Rosewood, which is seven miles inland from Cedar Key Bridge and within a county that’s issued a mandatory evacuation order to residents and visitors in coastal areas.
She said she’s not leaving – because she is not on the island and feels like she should be fine.
On the other hand, Lori Leigh Batts-Bennett has already evacuated the area of Steinhatchee and is staying in Jacksonville.
Batts-Bennett told CNN she spends almost every weekend in Steinhatchee and has been visiting the area since she was a child. She said she’s worried about the residents who have so far refused to evacuate.
At a news conference Tuesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis urged Floridians to heed evacuation warnings. “You really got to go now,” he said.
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FEMA officials express concern about power outages impacting people with disabilities in Florida
From CNN’s Devon M. Sayers
Federal authorities are concerned about the more than 110,000 people in Florida who need electricity for “life-sustaining medical equipment” as Hurricane Idalia gets closer to making landfall.
State officials have been telling residents in areas that are forecasted to be impacted by the storm to be prepared to lose power.
“This is a major hurricane. This is a significant storm that has life-threatening consequences,” Matthew Payne, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said. Payne is the FEMA Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Response Directorate.
FEMA has positioned several hundred personnel in the storm impact area including nine Urban Search and Rescue Teams, six incident management assistance teams, disaster survivor assistance and strike teams, Payne added.
Payne encouraged people in the path of the storm to follow local and state orders to evacuate.
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Majority of residents in direct path of Idalia have heeded evacuation recommendations, DeSantis says
A majority of residents who have been warned that their areas are in the path of Hurricane Idalia have followed evacuation orders, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said.
“I think on Cedar Key the vast majority have done it,” DeSantis said during a news briefing Tuesday evening. “I don’t think it’s 100%, but I think it was a lot.”
He said that residents who have been previously impacted by hurricanes have most likely taken the warnings more seriously.
“Way more have heeded than have not heeded,” the governor added.
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Florida Gulf Coast area hasn't seen a storm of Idalia's magnitude since 1800s, governor says
Idalia could have a historic impact on the Florida Gulf Coast area the storm is expected to hit as early as Wednesday, said Gov. Ron DeSantis.
With powerful winds and life-threatening storm surge, the hurricane is due to hit at Category 3 strength. It is forecasted to track into Apalachee Bay in the sparsely populated Big Bend region, according to the National Hurricane Center and its Tallahassee office.
“We don’t really have a historical analog in anybody’s memory so it’s likely to cause a lot of damage,” DeSantis said.
He told residents to be prepared to lose power and evacuate if they are in evacuation zones. The governor also said resources are in place to help the areas hit after the storm.
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Florida's Big Bend area will experience historic storm surge, emergency management director says
Kevin Guthrie, the director of Florida’s division of emergency management, called for the immediate evacuation of anyone still remaining in the central Gulf Coast of Florida.
He said the Big Bend area will experience a historic flood surge, warning that Idalia is “nothing to be messing around with.”
Guthrie warned of 10 to 15 feet of storm surge. The forecast is 3 feet higher than what was predicted for Hurricane Ian, he said.
“Please, heed the warnings,” Guthrie said.
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Bridges will close once winds hit 40 mph an hour or more, DeSantis says
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned residents in the path of Hurricane Idalia that authorities will work to close bridges once winds reach 40 mph or more.
He said that once high winds begin, bridges will not be “safe to traverse” and “Florida Highway Patrol will work with local officials to make sure that people are kept safe.”
DeSantis added “this is crunch time right now. We are going to be hit with a major hurricane.”
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Uber will provide free rides to and from evacuation centers in Florida, governor says
Uber will offer free round-trip rides to and from evacuation centers in Florida for those impacted by Hurricane Idalia, according to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Passengers can use the code “Idalia relief” in the Uber app to claim rides, the governor said at a news conference Tuesday evening. The offer has a value of up to $35, he added.
“We want to thank Uber for stepping up and helping,” he said.
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"You really got to go now": Florida governor urges people in Big Bend to evacuate ahead of Idalia landfall
For people living in Florida’s Big Bend region, now is the time to evacuate, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday evening. Hurricane Idalia is expected to hit the area as early as Wednesday morning, the latest forecasts show.
There will be a “significant, significant impact” on the Big Bend region, especially in low-lying and coastal areas.
“So you really got to go now,” DeSantis said, reiterating that “now’s the time.”
He warned that first responders will not be able to reach people who stay in evacuation zones until after the storm.
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Charleston prepares for significant flooding
From CNN’s Paradise Afshar
The mayor of Charleston, South Carolina, declared an emergency in preparation for Hurricane Idalia.
Ben Almquist, Charleston’s director of emergency management, said the city is taking precautions to manage any damages.
Charleston officials have also set up resources for residents that include handbag distribution centers and garage availability for residents to park their cars in during the storm, Tecklenburg said.
The mayor also encouraged residents to hunker down until the storm passes.
“I do ask that everyone stay in, stay put and stay safe Wednesday night throughout the night to Thursday morning,” Tecklenburg said.
CNN’s Monique Smith contributed reporting.
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Franklin County officials warn first responders can’t help if barrier island route is compromised
From CNN’s Amy Simonson
Franklin County officials are warning residents Tuesday that first responders will not be able to assist people on St. George Island and Alligator Point if the route to the mainland is compromised.
Franklin County is located in Florida’s Northwestern Panhandle, about 80 miles southwest of Tallahassee.
Bridges in the county will close once wind speeds reach 45 mph, the statement said.
“Please keep in mind when making plans to evacuate or to shelter in place, when the winds hit a sustained 45 mph bridges will close until it is deemed safe to travel,” the county said.
A voluntary evacuation for all of Franklin County and a mandatory evacuation of all barrier islands, low-lying areas, mobile homes and RV parks is currently in effect.
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Hurricane Idalia strengthens to Category 2
Idalia has strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane with maximum winds of 100 mph as it lashes Florida ahead of a potentially catastrophic landfall on the state’s west coast.
Hurricane Idalia is currently located just under 200 miles southwest of Tampa, Florida and is moving to the north at 16 mph.
Conditions are already deteriorating in parts of the state as water levels rise on the coast and outer storm bands from the hurricane, which stretch miles from its core, rake across the southern peninsula.
More intensification is expected to occur and a Category 3 landfall is still expected to occur along the Big Bend in Florida.
Below is the forecasted track for Idalia as of 5 p.m. ET
See how dangerous a storm surge can be for parts of Florida
There are forecasts for a storm surge of up to 15 feet in parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast as Hurricane Idalia bears down on the state.
Here’s how a storm surge can cause so much damage.
Post was updated with details of the latest forecast which warned of a storm surge of up to 15 feet in parts of Florida.
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Idalia brings severe weather to Fort Myers Beach — an area still recovering from Hurricane Ian devastation
From CNN’s Jillian Sykes
Beachgoers walk past a pile of Hurricane Ian debris on January 25, 2023, in Fort Myers Beach, Florida.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Florida resident Scott Martin arrived at Fort Myers Beach on Tuesday afternoon when police told him to avoid the area due to severe weather threats from Hurricane Idalia.
“They’re not letting anyone on the island,” Martin shared on Facebook. “I can’t believe it’s already flooded like this. The storm hasn’t even hit.”
Martin was living in downtown Fort Myers when Hurricane Ian devastated the area in September 2022. His car survived the storm, but his building suffered intense flooding.
In photos shared with CNN, you can see a police officer stopping a string of cars with ocean waves crashing in the distance.
Strong winds are shaking the palm trees as heavy rain continues to fall, covering the local roads.
Video shows murky brown water flooding the street as Martin and several other vehicles slowly attempt to leave the area.
Fort Myers Beach, which sits on a 7-mile-long island along the Gulf of Mexico,saw “total devastation, catastrophic” after Ian, Fort Myers Beach Town Councilman Dan Allers said at the time.
Allers told CNN in September 2022 that an estimated 90% of the island was gone.
In this aerial view, cleared lots are all that remain of some homes and businesses that were destroyed by Hurricane Ian on January 25, 2023 in Fort Myers Beach, Florida.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
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Some roads in Manatee County already have standing water due to Hurricane Idalia, officials say
From CNN’s Sara Smart
Some roads in Manatee County, Florida, already have standing water as Hurricane Idalia churns in the Gulf of Mexico.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Emergency Operation Center is operating at level 1 and staff is working through the night, Chair Commissioner for District 3 Kevin Van Ostenbridge, said in a storm briefing on Tuesday afternoon.
Ostenbridge mentioned that low-lying and flood-prone areas are already seeing standing water. He reminded residents to avoid flooded roads at all costs.
Director of Public Safety Jodie Fiske said that three shelters are opened in the area and residents are encouraged to take advantage of them.
Level A evacuations are in place which counts for those in mobile homes and RV’s.
Wind impacts are expected throughout the entire county, Fiske said. Officials continue to urge residents to sign up for emergency alerts to stay up to date on the latest on the storm.
Manatee County is located northeast of Sarasota and has a population of more than 400,000.
Below is the latest forecast track for Idalia as of 2 p.m. ET
City offices will also be closed as part of the local emergency, the city said.
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Cedar Key mayor begs dozens of residents still on island to leave immediately
From CNN’s Amy Simonson
Close to 100 people are not heeding warnings to evacuate Cedar Key as Hurricane Idalia churns toward the Gulf Coast, according to the mayor.
“We’re here to beg the citizens to heed this warning,” Mayor Heath Davis said at a press briefing on Tuesday.
Davis said his family has been on Cedar Key for many generations and that they have “never seen a storm this bad ever.”
Davis warned residents that when the winds reach 39 miles an hour Tuesday evening, all emergency services will stop.
“And it is imperative that our citizens realize that we’re very serious about that. We can’t allow our employees, our staff, and in this case, because our community is so small, our friends and our family go out into the storm as bad as it’s going to be and put people in danger,” he said.
Cedar Key Commissioner Sue Colson, who also spoke at the press conference said it’s critical that people heed the warning to evacuate.
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South Carolina governor declares state of emergency ahead of Idalia
From CNN’s Devon M. Sayers
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster speaks at a Republican fundraising dinner in Columbia, South Carolina, on August 5, 2023.
Sam Wolfe/Reuters
Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency in South Carolina on Tuesday, ahead of Hurricane Idalia’s impact on the state.
“People in low-lying areas and areas normally prone to flooding should have a plan for where to go if conditions become unsafe to stay in their homes. Stay with friends or family as a first option. Go to a motel or hotel, if possible,” SCEMD added.
Supermoon will worsen Idalia's storm surge, hurricane official says
From CNN's Eric Zerkel, Ashley Strickland and Brandon Miller
This week’s supermoon is making matters worse for Florida’s Gulf Coast by enhancing tides, which is expected to worsen Idalia’s storm surge.
A supermoon is a full moon that is closer to Earth than normal, which makes it appear larger and brighter in the night sky. This week’s supermoon will be nearly 18,000 miles closer to Earth than its normal distance. This is why supermoons enhance ocean tides — the moon’s gravity has a stronger effect on the oceans.
Up to 15 feet of surge is forecast in Florida’s Big Bend, a figure Rhome said takes into account the full moon’s influence on tides. Rhome said the supermoon would increase high tide by around a foot.
The high tide in Cedar Key, Florida — near where Idalia is expected to make landfall Wednesday morning — was already projected to hit its highest levels of the year, even before Idalia’s storm surge. Tuesday’s high tide there is the second-highest of the year, behind only Thursday’s.
The supermoon will peak at 9:36 p.m. ET on Wednesday but will appear full through Friday morning, according to NASA.
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Florida governor warns that inland counties will feel impacts of hurricane
From CNN’s Amy Simonson
Republican presidential candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during a campaign stop in Manchester, New Hampshire, on August 19, 2023.
Brian Snyder/Reuters
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned residents Tuesday that inland counties will also feel the impacts of Hurricane Idalia.
“This storm is going to impact inland counties, and particularly in northern Florida, you are going to see significant impacts,” DeSantis said in a storm briefing Tuesday as the southern part of the state is already beginning to feel the storm’s effects.
According to DeSantis, Florida counties west of the predictability cone should also be making storm preparations in the case there is a westward shift in Idalia’s path.
DeSantis announced that he expanded the executive order Tuesday morning to cover 49 counties, which now include Brevard, Orange and Osceola counties.
DeSantis stressed that people should heed evacuation orders in coastal areas, barrier islands, and low-lying areas, and travel to higher ground.
“But in some of these areas, like a Cedar Key, some of these others along the Big Bend, you know you’re talking about really, really significant storm surge potential. I mean, this is so similar —10 to 12-plus feet of storm surge could happen in some of those areas, and … you’re not going to win that battle if you decide to stay behind for that,” he said.
According to DeSantis, 25,000 lineman are standing by to respond to power outages after the storm, and by the end of the day Tuesday, that number will grow to more than 40,000 with some workers coming from the central and southeastern parts of the United States.
DeSantis warned that once Idalia hits, residents should be very cognizant of standing waters, downed power lines, and downed trees.
“It is going to hit and it is going to do damage,” DeSantis said.
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Pentagon says it's ready to assist Florida ahead of Idalia making landfall
From CNN's Michael Conte
The Defense Department said that 3,000 National Guardsmen have already been mobilized ahead of Hurricane Idalia — with the remaining 1,800 on their way.
The storm is located 240 miles south-southwest of Tampa, Florida, and is moving northward at 15 mph. CNN is tracking the storm’s path. It is expected to become a powerful Category 3 hurricane before making landfall in the state on Wednesday.
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FEMA administrator says warehouses are full and rescue workers are prepositioned ahead of storm
From CNN's Kevin Liptak
Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell speaks during the daily briefing at the White House on Tuesday.
Susan Walsh/AP
Detailing federal efforts in Florida ahead of Hurricane Idalia’s landfall, Federal Emergency Management Agency Deanne Criswell said workers, equipment and resources were pre-positioned in areas likely affected by the storm.
That includes urban search and rescue teams, disaster survivor assistance teams, and incident management assistant teams, plus warehouses filled with food, water, blankets, and medical supplies.
The Red Cross has 50,000 meals to support immediate needs in the state, Criswell said Tuesday after an Oval Office briefing with President Joe Biden.
FEMA currently has $3.4 billion in its disaster relief fund and is now prioritizing its available funding for the looming Hurricane Idalia, the aftermath of wildfires in Maui and other extreme weather events to come, Criswell said.
Criswell called on Congress to pass a supplemental funding request to ensure emergency relief operations aren’t impacted.
The White House send a request for an additional $12 billion for disaster relief funding earlier this month, pairing it with requests for more security aid for Ukraine.
Criswell said she would have more to say on the supplemental request soon, and called the $12 billion a “bridge to get us through the end of the fiscal year.”
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Idalia is nearing Category 2 strength, National Hurricane Center says
From CNN Meteorologist Mary Gilbert
Hurricane Idalia churns near Florida in this satellite image taken at 2:01pm ET on Tuesday.
NOAA
Hurricane Idalia continues to strengthen as it tracks toward the Florida coastline. The intensifying Category 1 hurricane now has sustained winds of 90 mph with higher gusts, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center. Category 2 hurricanes have winds from 96 mph to 110 mph.
The hurricane will undergo rapid intensification until it makes landfall as a strong Category 3 hurricane in the Big Bend region of Florida on Wednesday. Depending on how long the hurricane is able to stay over the extremely warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, it’s not out of the question Idalia could come ashore as a Category 4 hurricane.
Idalia is currently located 240 miles south-southwest of Tampa, Florida, and is moving northward at 15 mph. The hurricane’s outermost rain bands have begun to bring rain to the Florida Keys and the far southwestern portion of the state. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles.
Storm surge has already begun to affect parts of the southwestern Florida coast where water levels have risen at least two feet above normal this afternoon. Up to 15 feet of storm surge is possible for Florida’s Big Bend region late Tuesday into Wednesday as the hurricane approaches.
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Florida's Citrus County is preparing for a "potentially deadly weather event," sheriff says
From CNN’s Amy Simonson
The Citrus County Sheriff told Zone A residents in a statement Tuesday to “evacuate now” as Hurricane Idalia makes its way through Gulf Coast waters.
Officials are preparing for the “potentially deadly weather event” and telling residents to take Hurricane Idalia “very seriously,” according to a Citrus County Sheriff’s Office Facebook post.
People should plan to stay with a friend or family member outside of Zone A, and shelters should be a “last resort but are open” if needed, the statement said.
The statement urged residents not to become “complacent” and to take action now if they have not already done so. “After the storm, please wait until things stabilize before venturing out while conditions will still be hazardous,” the statement said.
Chevron evacuates oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico ahead of looming Hurricane Idalia
From CNN’s Matt Egan
Chevron has evacuated workers from three oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico due to the threat posed by Hurricane Idalia, the company said Tuesday.
In a statement to CNN, Chevron spokesperson Deena McMullen said the company transported non-essential personnel from two platforms, named Blind Faith and Petronius.
Chevron said it also evacuated all personnel from its Genesis facility, an oil and gas platform that is being decommissioned.
The company indicated that Hurricane Idalia has not impacted energy supplies.
“Production at all our Chevron-operated Gulf of Mexico assets remain at normal levels,” the spokesperson said.
Idalia became a Category 1 hurricane on Tuesday and is on track to make landfall in Florida as a Category 3 hurricane, threatening to unleash once-in-a-lifetime storm surge.
“Chevron is closely monitoring Hurricane Idalia with a focus on the safety of our workforce, the integrity of our facilities and the protection of the environment,” McMullen said.
Other oil companies indicate that, at this point, they have not evacuated workers from the region. Shell spokesperson Cynthia Babski told CNN on Tuesday the company has not evacuated any personnel from the Gulf of Mexico but continues to “closely monitor” Hurricane Idalia.
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Jacksonville's Navy air station will close to non-essential personnel tonight
From CNN’s Devon M. Sayers
The Navy’s largest installation in the Southeast, Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, will close to non-essential personnel beginning Tuesday at 7pm, the base said in a Facebook post.
“Only mission essential personnel will have access to the station on Wednesday, Aug. 30 until the installation returns to normal operations,” NAS Jacksonville said.
NAS Jacksonville noted in a Facebook post that “the Navy Exchange received some hurricane supplies this morning including generators, but they are going fast!”
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Gov. Kemp issues state of emergency for Georgia ahead of Hurricane Idalia
From CNN’s Devon M. Sayers
Gov. Brian Kemp issued a state of emergency for the state of Georgia ahead of Hurricane Idalia’s impact, his office said in a release.
The order went into effect with his signature Tuesday.
“We are taking every precaution ahead of Hurricane Idalia’s landfall tomorrow, and I am taking this additional executive action to ensure state assets are ready to respond,” Kemp said in a news release.
“Georgians in the expected impact area can and should take necessary steps to ensure their safety and that of their families,” Kemp added.
The governor told residents the state is “well positioned to respond to whatever Idalia may bring.”
Georgia ports:The Port of Brunswick will end vessel activity tonight, according to a post from the Georgia Ports Authority. The Mayor’s Point terminal, which handles a “vast array of forest products,” will close Wednesday, the post said. Its sister port, the Port of Savannah, will remain open.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers cancel Wednesday's scheduled practice
From CNN's David Close
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have canceled Wednesday’s scheduled practice “as a precaution” due to the inclement weather threat Hurricane Idalia could have on local area.
The team said Tuesday it had also adjusted Thursday’s practice session to begin at 10:45 a.m. ET and would be monitoring the storm should more schedule changes be needed.
The Buccaneers open up their 2023-24 NFL season on Sunday, September 10, in Minneapolis against the Minnesota Vikings.
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Hurricane Idalia could bring devastation and "non-survivable" storm surge, Taylor County officials warn
From CNN’s Amy Simonson
Taylor County officials are urging people Tuesday to take warnings “extremely seriously” as Hurricane Idalia moves toward Florida’s Gulf Coast.
“Hurricane Idalia is a weather event unprecedented for our area. There is great potential for death and catastrophic devastation,” the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management said in a Facebook post.
The statement added that storm surge on the coastal regions are “projected as non-survivable.”
“All coastal residents are mandated to evacuate, regardless of the structure,” the statement said. Officials ordered a mandatory evacuation for all coastal residents Monday, CNN previously reported.
All Taylor County residents who reside at any location in a mobile home, camper trailer or any form of substandard housing are mandated to evacuate.
“You are encouraged to evacuate in a northwestern direction,” the statement said.
The county also reminded residents that first responders will be unable to safely respond to calls once the storm hits.
Taylor County, with a population of just over 20,000 people, spans over approximately 1,200 square miles in the “Big Bend” area of the state. It is located approximately 50 miles south of Tallahassee.
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Hurricane Idalia’s impacts could stretch inland to areas where evacuees usually go
From CNN’s Rachel Ramirez
While Hurricane Idalia’s landfall is forecast to bring life-threatening storm surge to parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast, experts warn there are other potential significant impacts that could happen well outside its forecast cone — and possibly into the places to where people ultimately evacuate.
The cone is key to determining the potential track of the center of the storm and does not take into account its size, Kim Wood, an associate professor of hydrology and atmospheric science at Arizona State University, said.
Idalia’s impacts will spread further inland — even hundreds of miles away from where its center makes landfall — and could unleash heavy rainfall and flooding.
Inland areas — where people may evacuate to, for instance — could see hazardous flooding and heavy rainfall. It’s an impact that’s becoming more likely in a water climate.
Research has shown that hurricanes are moving farther inland than they did five decades ago.
“These are inland areas that people from the coastline might evacuate to, and think they’re safe, but there’s going to be very high chance of flash flooding in those areas,” Andrew Kruczkiewicz, senior researcher at the Columbia University’s Climate School, said. “So we need to pay more attention to the risks associated with intense precipitation, especially in areas that are distant from the coastline.”
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Salvador Dali collection in St. Petersburg housed in museum designed to withstand large hurricane
From CNN’s Devon M. Sayers
The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, is seen in 2011.
Michael Weimar/Getty Images/FILE
The Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, home of an “unparalleled collection” of his works, is making preparations for Hurricane Idalia.
The museum has more that 2,000 works — including 100 oil paintings from Salvador Dali — and is the preeminent collection of his works outside of Spain, according to the museum.
The building housing the museum was built in 2011 and was “constructed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane in order to protect the valuable artwork,” Beth Bell, marketing director with the museum, told CNN via email.
Bell said staff from the museum have made some preparations ahead of the storm, including closure of the museum and securing loose items, including outdoor furniture.
“The Dalí’s famed free-form geodesic glass bubble, known as the ‘enigma,’ is made up of 1,062 triangular pieces of laminated 1.5 inch thick glass, supported by a steel frame, and can withstand up to a Category 3 storm,” Bell said.
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Officials in Florida's Pinellas County warn Idalia still a danger despite expected landfall further north
From CNN’s Chris Boyette
Officials in Florida’s Pinellas County are warning residents not to discount the possible dangers that Hurricane Idalia might bring to the area, despite the current forecast for the center of the storm to make landfall well north of the Tampa-St. Petersburg area.
“Many of you may have seen that the cone has shifted. You may have heard media personnel talking about how Pinellas County is outside of the cone. The cone does not tell you the whole story, about where the impacts of the storm are,” County Emergency Management Director Cathie Perkins said.
Perkins said that means for residents who live in a low-lying or coastal areas, the water is still expected to rise four to seven feet between Tuesday night and Wednesday.
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In photos: Floridians prepare for Idalia's arrival
From CNN Digital's Photo Desk
Residents in Florida are preparing for the potential impact of Idalia, which has strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of up to 80 mph.
The storm is expected to intensify considerably into a powerful Category 3 hurricane before making landfall in Florida on Wednesday.
Boats are being secured and sandbags filled as Hurricane Idalia is currently located 320 miles south-southwest of Tampa.
Workers with Pike Electric fortify power lines in Clearwater, Florida, on Tuesday.
Adrees Latif/Reuters
A man places plywood in front of a store in Cedar Key on Tuesday.
Marco Bello/Reuters
Justin Versaggi secures a boat at Macfarlane Park in Tampa on Tuesday.
Ivy Ceballo/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire
Kiosks at the Southwest Airlines ticket counter are covered in protective wrapping at the Tampa International Airport on Tuesday. The airport closed to all air travel early Tuesday.
Chris O'Meara/AP
Beach chairs are loaded up to be taken away as beachgoers check out the surf on Fort Myers Beach.
Andrew West/The News-Press/USA Today Network
Marion County Animal Control Officers Sydney Watson, left, and Faith Ballard, right, place waste bags on the front of 55 kennels set up for dogs at Lake Weir High School in Ocala on Tuesday.
Doug Engle/Ocala Star Banner/USA Today Network
Men install barriers outside the Marriott Hotel in Clearwater Beach.
Adrees Latif/Reuters
Tallahassee residents fill sandbags as they prepare Hurricane Idalia.
Why Hurricane Idalia could be so bad for the Tampa area
From CNN’s Eric Zerkel
The center of Hurricane Idalia isn’t forecast to make landfall in the Tampa area, but any wobble or shift in its track over the next 12 hours could spell greater danger and destruction there, especially along the area’s storm surge-prone coast.
If the storm shifts slightly to the east, as it moves past Tampa in the Gulf of Mexico, it would worsen the already strong winds and dangerous surge expected to hit the area.
Given Idalia’s forecast track as of early Tuesday afternoon, Tampa will endure sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph, with gusts of 50 to 70 mph, plus 4 to 6 inches of heavy rain and 4 to 7 feet of storm surge — the latter of which would be record-breaking. The high-water mark in Tampa Bay at St. Petersburg came in 1985 with Hurricane Elena, when water levels rose 4 feet above high tide.
But the uncertainty in the storm’s final track and impact on the Tampa area is something National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome said people need to prepare for.
Rhome said that given the way this storm is expected to track — to the northeast, but west of Tampa — even a slight change in its winds could have a “dramatic” impact on possible surge levels in Tampa.
“The degree of those tropical storm force winds, if it changes by 5 or even 10 miles per hour, it can have a substantial impact on how much surge is realized in the (Tampa) Bay,” Rhome told CNN.
Rhome said the hurricane’s 4-to-7-foot surge forecast in the Tampa area was designed to take into account both scenarios, but even the lower end of the range is considered dangerous.
“A lot of people don’t realize that we evacuate in this country for surge, not wind,” Rhome said. “Everybody’s focused on wind, but that’s not the reason we evacuate in this country.”
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Tampa mayor warns residents about storm surge: Don’t wake up, "see blue skies and think we are done"
From CNN’s Amy Simonson
Mayor Jane Castor warned Tampa city residents of an expected storm surge and urged them to exercise caution throughout Wednesday.
Although Tampa residents have not often experienced a tidal surge, they should expect one on Wednesday, she said.
Storm surge will probably be the most critical element on Wednesday, Castor noted.
Although the cone of predictability has shifted in Tampa’s favor, history has proven that it is not always reliable, Castor warned, referring to Hurricanes Charlie and Ian.
With evacuation orders in effect for Tampa’s Zone A, she encouraged everyone in those areas to get out. “So, understand that Mother Nature wins every time. So if you have the opportunity to evacuate, and you can, you should. Please, please do,” she said.
Castor said residents do not need to leave the state, but they can go 10 to 20 miles inland and steer clear of low-lying areas.
Idalia is forecast to make landfall as a major hurricane (Category 3 or stronger), bringing a potential storm surge of 10 to 15 feet to the Big Bend area and 4 to 7 feet to the Tampa Bay area.
The city of Tampa is located in Hillsborough County. Officials have declared a state of local emergency ahead of possible impacts from Idalia.
More on storm surges: “A storm surge is a rise in water level caused by a strong storm’s wind pushing water onshore,” said CNN meteorologist Brandon Miller. “The wind literally piles up the ocean water and pushes it on the land.”
And storm surge accounts for nearly half of all hurricane-related fatalities, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Storm surge also can exacerbate flooding. As water piles up along the coast, rivers and streams that typically drain into the ocean can get clogged farther upstream, forcing water levels to rise.
CNN’s Steve Almasy and Dakin Andone contributed reporting to this post.
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St. Petersburg officials are preparing for Hurricane Idalia as if "we could get a direct hit"
From CNN’s Devon M. Sayers
A resident places wooden boards to protect a house in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Monday.
Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Officials in St. Petersburg, Florida, are warning residents about storm surge from Hurricane Idalia.
“We are preparing as if we could get a direct hit,” Rob Gerdes, administrator for St. Petersburg, during a press conference.
The center of Idalia is forecast to make landfall well north of the Tampa-St. Petersburg area, though a small shift in the track could put that vulnerable population center more at risk.
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch cautioned his citizens that after Idalia potentially passes over the community, the danger will not be over.
“Please stay in your homes, stay alert, and wait for the message from officials that it is safe to leave,” Welch said at a press conference at his city emergency management center.
Four shelters including a special needs facility and pet shelters are now open in St. Petersburg, the mayor said.
The city has now stopped the distribution of sandbags to allow city employees who were working the sandbagging operations time to prepare their own homes, he said.
Crews are also preparing for potential power loss. “We are prepared for what lies ahead,” Jeff Baker with Duke Energy said. The company said that 4,500 energy workers from around the region and Midwest are coming into the region to help with the restoration efforts.
The city plans on holding an additional press conference later today.
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Idalia could be a once-in-a-lifetime event for Tampa and parts of Florida Gulf Coast
From CNN’s Eric Zerkel and Brandon Miller
Hurricane Idalia is seen in this satellite image taken at 11:15am ET on Tuesday.
NOAA
Idalia’s forecast landfall strength and storm surge levels could reach once-in-a-lifetime levels along parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Idalia is forecast to make landfall as a major hurricane (Category 3 or stronger), bringing a potential storm surge of 10 to 15 feet to the Big Bend area and 4 to 7 feet to the Tampa Bay area.
Anything greater than 4 feet of storm surge inundation in the Tampa Bay area would set a new record there. Six feet of surge inundation would set a record in Cedar Key on the southern side of the Big Bend.
While other storms, like Hurricane Ian, have produced higher storm surge, these levels would be unprecedented for this part of the Florida Gulf Coast.
The storm’s strength would also be a rare event for the Big Bend.
Idalia may track into the Apalachee Bay — an inlet that’s part of Florida’s broader Big Bend — as a Category 3 storm, becoming the first to do so.
Only two major hurricanes on record have made landfall within 60 miles of Cedar Key: 1950’s Hurricane Easy and an unnamed hurricane in 1896, according to data from the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
“A major hurricane for any location is in itself a rare event,” NHC deputy director Jamie Rhome told CNN. “So for any location, a major hurricane in itself is a rare event, which for most individuals, probably only occurs once-in-a-lifetime.”
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Tampa-area residents urged to stay away from water through Wednesday as state braces for Idalia
From CNN's Melissa Alonso
Hillsborough County, Florida, officials urged residents Tuesday to prepare for Hurricane Idalia and to move away from the water.
The county is located on the central western coast of Florida and includes the city of Tampa.
Tampa-area “residents must understand … the storm surge may be delayed through Wednesday,” according to Hillsborough County Office of Emergency Management Director Tim Dudley. The storm surge threat is high with Hurricane Idalia — up to 7 feet, he added.
“While it may look nice outside, when the rain ends the threat has not passed,” he warned.
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies are continuing to help residents in Zone A evacuate before they start closing roads, officials said.
“There’s going to be flooding,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, adding that there will be about four to six inches of rain in a short amount of time, and King Tide, along with four to seven feet storm surge.
“That could change in a moment’s notice with this uncertain storm,” said the sheriff.
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Hurricane Idalia growing stronger, with landfall intensity increasing
From CNN meteorologists Mary Gilbert and Brandon Miller
Hurricane Idalia gained additional strength Tuesday morning and now has maximum sustained winds of 85 mph with stronger wind gusts, according to the National Hurricane Center’s latest update.
Idalia remains a Category 1 hurricane for now, but it is expected to undergo rapid intensification and become an extremely dangerous Category 3 hurricane before landfall on Wednesday. The intensity on Wednesday morning just before landfall has increased in the forecast up to 125 mph, only 5 mph below Category 4 strength.
Idalia is located about 275 miles south-southwest of Tampa, Florida, and is moving northward at 14 mph. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles.
Landfall is still expected in the Big Bend area of Florida near Steinhatchee on Wednesday morning.
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Officials in Florida's Dixie County are going door to door ahead of storm
From CNN’s Devon M. Sayers
Officials in a small county in Florida’s big bend are going door to door ahead of the storm to caution residents.
“We just want everybody to really go to a shelter or evacuate out of the county to another state,” Mandy Lemmermen, public information officer for Dixie County told CNN’s News Central.
The county is currently going door to door to inform residents and take a census of who is staying. The county is also asking for residents to secure items that may go airborne during the storm.
Dixie County is located in Florida’s big bend due west of Gainsville. The county has a population of just over 17,000 people according to the U.S. Census.
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North Carolina declares state of emergency ahead of Idalia
From CNN’s Devon M. Sayers
North Carolina has declared a state of emergency ahead of the possible impact of Idalia, Gov. Roy Cooper said in a release.
“Idalia is expected to bring several hazards to North Carolina on Wednesday and Thursday, with the risk of flooding from heavy rain particularly in Southeast North Carolina,” the release added.
North Carolina Emergency Management Director Will Ray said the state is “working together with our local jurisdictions to ensure we have necessary resources staged to support emergency response needs.”
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Florida Gators football team changes travel plans because of Hurricane Idalia
From CNN's Jillian Martin
The University of Florida’s football team, the Florida Gators, announced a change in its travel plans because of Hurricane Idalia.
The Gators, who are scheduled to face No. 14 Utah in their season opener on Thursday, will now leave a day earlier, flying to Dallas on Tuesday. The team will stay in Dallas overnight and then fly to Salt Lake City on Wednesday, arriving in Utah as originally scheduled.
The University of Florida campus in Gainesville is closed Tuesday starting at noon ET and will be closed Wednesday.
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Amtrak is canceling and shortening several train routes ahead of Hurricane Idalia
From CNN's Greg Wallace
Amtrak is canceling several trains and modifying routes in advance of Hurricane Idalia.
The rail line has so far canceled 12 East Coast routes on Tuesday and Wednesday that originate in or terminate in the Orlando and Miami areas. Those routes are the Auto Train, Silver Star, and Silver Meteor.
Amtrak has also shortened Palmetto routes on Tuesday and Wednesday. That route – which typically runs from New York to Savannah, Georgia – will go only as far south as Washington, D.C.
Amtrak called the measures “a safety precaution for customers and employees.”
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Idalia's damaging winds will reach more than 100 miles inland
From CNN Meteorologist Mary Gilbert
Idalia’s wind field will expand as the storm strengthens today, meaning the storm’s wind and rain will be felt well beyond the hurricane’s center.
The storm’s wind field is a measure of how big Idalia is and captures how far tropical-storm-force (39 to 73 mph) and hurricane-force (74 mph-plus) winds reach from its center.
Idalia’s hurricane-force winds will extend up to 23 miles east of its center as it closes in on the Florida coastline Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. The cyclone’s tropical storm-force winds will reach between 100 and 160 miles east of its center during the same timeframe.
To put that distance in perspective:
Hurricane-force winds will reach a distance equivalent to traveling from Tampa, Florida, to Clearwater, Florida
Tropical storm-force winds will reach a distance equivalent to traveling the two hours from Orlando to Jacksonville.
When Idalia makes landfall Wednesday morning, portions of interior Florida up to 160 miles from the coast will encounter tropical-storm-force winds. Any locations closer to the storm’s center will bear the brunt of the hurricane’s strongest winds.
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Gov. DeSantis suspends tolls in several counties as he urges residents to finalize storm prep and evacuations
From CNN’s Melissa Alonso
Vinell Chambers, left, and Antonio Floyd fill sandbags in Pinellas Park, Florida, on Tuesday.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday cautioned “everybody on that Gulf Coast from Tampa Bay up until Northwest Florida” to “remain vigilant” as Hurricane Idalia approaches.
“Even if your community is not in the forecast, it does not mean you’re in the clear,” said Kevin Guthrie, the state’s emergency operations director.
Gov. DeSantis announced the following details “to make these evacuations easier on families:”
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) were instructed to “waive tolls in Citrus, Hernando Hillsborough, Lake, Pasco, Pinellas and Sumter counties” as of 4 a.m. ET on Tuesday.
As wind becomes stronger later today and into the night, FDOT will coordinate with local law enforcement to close bridges once speeds reach in excess of 40 miles per hour.
Meanwhile, 42 school districts have announced school closures over the next two days along with 16 state colleges and seven Florida universities, DeSantis said.
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Florida’s increasingly volatile insurance industry is bracing for Hurricane Idalia
From CNN's Eva Rothenberg
A mandatory evacuation sign is displayed in Cedar Key, Florida, on Tuesday.
Marco Bello/Reuters
As it churns toward the disaster-prone Sunshine State, Hurricane Idalia could be a litmus test for Florida’s increasingly volatile and expensive insurance landscape.
But insurers are keeping a wary eye on Idalia, expected to make landfall Wednesday. Experts say the state’s insurance industry can absorb potential losses for now, but an Idalia hit on a highly populated area could affect those companies’ future outlooks.
Conditions could change ahead of Wednesday, including the strength and path of the storm.
Some more context: The storm is strengthening quickly and is projected to intensify into a powerful Category 3 hurricane.It is on apath to hit less-populated areas on Florida’s Gulf Coast, making landfall well north of Tampa, but a small shift in the track could put the metro area of about 3 million people at risk. It will likely pass over Gainesville and Jacksonville — Florida’s most populous city — after it makes landfall. All three cities could see maximum sustained winds in excess of 50 mph and up to sixinches of rain,CNN estimates.
Read the full checklist here or download the PDF, which contains links with more details.
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St. Petersburg area "weather is going to get pretty bad" beginning tonight, police chief says
From CNN's Melissa Alonso
Residents fill sandbags in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Monday.
Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno/Bloomberg via Getty Images
St. Petersburg will experience the first rain bands from Idalia around 4 p.m. ET, Police Chief Anthony Holloway told CNN Tuesday morning.
Floridians “in the flood area, Zone A” should use “the next eight hours right now to gather up your belongings, get your family, your pets, and move out,” the chief said, adding, “we just want people to move away from danger.”
Those who choose not to evacuate should shelter in place and remember that any help will only come after the weather dies down, he noted.
“The people that decide not to evacuate, they have to remember to shelter in place. You are going to be on your own until the weather dies down and then we will be able to come back out and rescue you,” he said.
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Only 2 major hurricanes on record have made landfall in region of Idalia's projected path
From CNN's Mary Gilbert
Idalia is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane along Florida’s Big Bend, a natural, storm-surge-prone divot along the coast stretching from Tampa to just south of Tallahassee.
The current track of Idalia has the cyclone making landfall there Wednesday north of Cedar Key as a Category 3 hurricane.
Only two Category 3 hurricanes on record have made landfall within 60 miles of Cedar Key: 1950’s Hurricane Easy and an unnamed hurricane in 1896, according to data from the National Hurricane Center.
No hurricane stronger than a Category 3 has ever made landfall within 60 miles of Cedar Key.
The last hurricane to make landfall in the region was 2016’s Hermine, which made landfall as a Category 1 storm.
The National Weather Service in Tallahassee had strong words for the region Tuesday morning, warning residents to finish their preparations today:
Western Cuba receives more than 4 inches of precipitation overnight
From CNN’s Weather Brandon Miller and Patrick Oppmann
A truck passes by on a flooded street in Guanimar, Cuba, on M August 28, 2023. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini
Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters
The western tip of Cuba got more than four inches of precipitation as of 5 a.m. ET as Idalia impacted the region overnight, according to the Cuban national meteorological service, INSMET.
Here’s a look at additional precipitation figures from across the island as of 5 a.m. ET from INSMET:
106 millimeters in Isabel Rubio (Pinar del Río)
91 millimeters in Amistad Cuba-Francia (Isla de la Juventud)
90 millimeters in San Juan and Martínez (Pinar del Río)
49 mm in Bauta (Artemisa)
47 mm in Casa Blanca (Havana)
Sixty percent of Cuba’s Westernmost province of Pinar del Río is still without power, state-run Radio Rebelde reported Tuesday. Roughly 600,000 people live in the Province of Pinar del Rio. Power outages were also reported in some parts of Havana, Radio Rebelde reports.
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Pinellas County official: Residents should complete preparations today and "need to heed" evacuation orders
From CNN’s Melissa Alonso
Dave Roberts and Brooke Painter load their van as they evacuate their vacation rental in Tampa on Monday.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Pinellas County, Florida, “residents should complete their preparations today and be in a safe place by this evening” ahead of impacts from Idalia, said Ashley Giovannetti of the Pinellas County Emergency Management.
The spokesperson said there are several shelters open and hotels available, including many that are pet friendly.
“There’s a lot of options,” she said. “You don’t have to travel across the state or into another state. We want you to evacuate tens of miles, not hundreds of miles,” according to Giovannetti. “Really all they have to do is go to a non-evacuation zone.”
The county covers the coastal cities of St. Petersburg and Clearwater.
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Tampa International Airport closed ahead of Idalia's anticipated landfall
So far, that’s the only major airport significantly affected by the storm, which strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane overnight. The St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport Terminal building also is closing Tuesday afternoon.
Flight-tracking website FlightAware shows Southwest Airlines schedule is the most affected, with 144 cancellations. United, Delta and American Airlines are also impacted with about 150 delays combined and nearly 200 cancellations.
Several airlines, including Delta, Southwest, JetBlue and United, have issued advisories to passengers traveling to airports in Idalia’s path.
Radar imagery shows Hurricane Idalia churning over the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday morning.
CNN
NOAA Hurricane Hunters have found Hurricane Idalia is strengthening — it now has maximum sustained winds of 80 miles per hour with stronger gusts, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center.
Rapid intensification is likely through landfall, and Idalia is forecast to become an extremely dangerous, major hurricane before landfall on Wednesday.
Idalia is located about 320 miles south-southwest of Tampa, Florida, and moving northward at 14 miles per hour. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles.
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Idalia could rapidly strengthen as it travels through some of the warmest waters on the planet
From CNN's Nouran Salahieh, Joe Sutton and Rachel Ramirez
If it does, it would join a growing list of devastating storms like monster Hurricane Ian – which leveled coastal Florida and left more than 100 dead – to rapidly intensify before landfall in recent years.
Idalia posed a “notable risk” of this phenomenon, the National Hurricane Center warned Monday, as it travels through the Gulf of Mexico.
Water temperatures around southern Florida climbed to 100 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas this summer, and temperatures in the Gulf overall have been record-warm, with more than enough heat to support rapid strengthening.
Deadly storm surge up to 12 feet is possible in Florida’s Big Bend, a danger that only will be worsened by waves fueled by hurricane-force winds stronger than 100 mph. Storm surge accounts for nearly half of all hurricane-related fatalities, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says, and is the reason behind most storm evacuations.
Cedar Key could be cut off by the high storm surge, National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome said.
Evacuation orders along the coast are in place because of the projected storm surge, Rhome stressed.
But it’s not just the coastal areas that could flood. Inland areas that receive evacuees could see hazardous flooding and heavy rainfall from Idalia. Heavy rainfall-related hazards can also occur as far as 100 miles away from where the storm center tracks, warned Andrew Kruczkiewicz, senior researcher at the Columbia University’s Climate School.
CNN meteorologists Robert Shackelford, Monica Garrett and Taylor Ward and CNN’s Mary Gilbert, Melissa Alonso, Devon Sayers and Jennifer Henderson contributed to this report.
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Follow any evacuation orders and be aware of storm surge, FEMA chief advises Floridians ahead of Idalia
Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell warned Florida residents in the path of Hurricane Idalia to heed evacuation orders and be aware of storm surge.
“The number-one killer in all of these storms is water,” she added.
If you are asked to evacuate, be sure to take all your important documents with you, Criswell said.
In Florida, FEMA search and rescue teams are “on standby” and Army Corps of Engineers is “ready to support power generation” efforts. There are also teams ready to go door-to-door to assess damage after the storm passes, according to Criswell.
FEMA is also in contact with officials in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, which, Criswell said, “will also feel some impacts.”
CNN’s Betsy Klein contributed reporting to this post.
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Idalia is expected to rapidly intensify — something that's becoming more common thanks to climate crisis
From CNN’s Rachel Ramirez
Idalia is expected to rapidly intensify as it tracks through the Gulf of Mexico, tapping into some of the warmest waters on the planet ahead of making landfall in Florida this week.
If it does so, it would join a growing list of devastating storms like Hurricane Ian — which leveled coastal Florida and left more than 100 dead — to rapidly intensify before landfall in recent years.
Idalia posed a “notable risk” of this so-called rapid intensification phenomenon, the National Hurricane Center warned Monday, as it travels through the Gulf of Mexico. Water temperatures around southern Florida climbed to 100 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas this summer, and temperatures in the Gulf overall have been record-warm, with more than enough heat to support rapid strengthening.
The impact of the climate crisis:Rapid intensification is precisely what it sounds like — when a storm’s winds strengthen rapidly over a short amount of time. Scientists have defined it as a wind speed increase of at least 35 mph in 24 hours or less.
Concerningly, it has been happening more and more as storms are approaching landfall, making them harder to prepare for and more dangerous to the people who stayed behind expecting a weaker storm.
It’s just one of the ways experts say the climate crisis is making hurricanes more dangerous, as warmer waters allow for storms to strengthen more quickly. More than 90% of warming around the globe over the past 50 years has taken place in the oceans, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
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Preparations are underway as Idalia strengthens into a hurricane. Here's the latest
From CNN's Nouran Salahieh, Joe Sutton and Rachel Ramirez
has strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane and is expected to hit Florida this week as a powerful Category 3 storm.
As the storm makes its way to the panhandle, preparations could be seen across the state. Here’s the latest:
Airports close: Tampa International Airport will suspend all commercial operations beginning Tuesday and stay closed until it can assess any damages later in the week, airport officials announced. The St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport Terminal building will close Tuesday afternoon.
Evacuations in at least 22 counties: Baker, Citrus, Dixie, Franklin, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia and Wakilla counties have all called for residents to evacuate certain at-risk areas.
Schools close: 32 County School Districts have issued closures, as did multiple colleges and universities, including Florida State University, the University of Florida and Florida A&M University.
Emergencies declared: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded an emergency declaration to 46 of 67 Florida counties on Monday morning. Several local jurisdictions have also declared emergencies.
The Florida National Guard activated: More than 5,000 National Guard members were activated to help respond to the storm.
US Navy ships begin leaving: Navy ships have begun leaving Florida ahead of Tropical Storm Idalia’s landfall, the Navy said Monday.
Power outages expected: DeSantis told residents to prepare to be without power. “If you are in the path of the storm, you should expect power outages so please prepare for that,” the governor told residents Sunday.
Hospital system suspending services: Patients will be transferred from at least three hospitals: HCA Florida Pasadena Hospital, HCA Florida Trinity West Hospital and HCA Florida West Tampa Hospital.
“We want everyone to take this storm seriously,” Tampa’s Fire Rescue Chief Barbara Tripp said during a news conference.
The fire chief also asked citizens to clear debris from property ahead of the storm’s arrival and look out for neighbors who may need help.
“Once the wind reaches a certain miles per hour, Tampa Fire Rescue will not be able to respond,” Tripp warned.
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Idalia has strengthened into a hurricane as it heads toward Florida
From CNN's Nouran Salahieh, Joe Sutton and Rachel Ramirez
Mapbox/CNN
Idalia has strengthened into a hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and stronger gusts and is expected to intensify considerably into a powerful Category 3 hurricane before making landfall in Florida on Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm could deliver a devastating blow to portions of Florida’s Gulf Coast with life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds. It is expected to make landfall well north of Tampa, in Florida’s Big Bend region, but a small shift in the track could put the vulnerable population center more at risk.
Before it makes landfall, Idalia could produce a few tornadoes along the west central Florida coast Tuesday and northward into the Florida Big Bend by Tuesday night. Heavy rain could produce flash flooding across portions of the west coast of Florida, the Florida Panhandle, and southern Georgia Tuesday into Wednesday, spreading into portions of the eastern Carolinas Wednesday into Thursday.
The storm was churning roughly 370 miles southwest of Tampa early Tuesday, the hurricane center said in a 5 a.m. update.
“This is going to be a major hurricane,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a Monday news conference.
The storm is expected to dump 4 to 8 inches of rain from Tuesday into Thursday across parts of the west coast of Florida, the Florida Panhandle, southeast Georgia and the eastern Carolinas – where streets could flood.
