August 30, 20233 yr Author 5:00 am update: Idalia is now a cat. 4 Hurricane. ...IDALIA RAPIDLY INTENSIFIES INTO A CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE... ...CATASTROPHIC STORM SURGE AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS ARE NEARING THE FLORIDA BIG BEND REGION... At 500 AM EDT (0900 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Idalia was located by Tallahassee radar near latitude 29.1 North, longitude 84.1 West. Idalia is moving toward the north-northeast near 18 mph (30 km/h). A north-northeastward motion is expected through the morning, with Idalia's center forecast to reach the Big Bend coast of Florida this morning. After landfall, 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. Hurricane Hunter aircraft data indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 130 mph (215 km/h) with higher gusts. Idalia is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Idalia could continue to strengthen before it reaches the Big Bend coast of Florida in a few hours. While Idalia should weaken after landfall, 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. Idalia should emerge off the southeastern United States coast early on Thursday and move eastward through late week. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 940 mb (27.76 inches) based on aircraft data. 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. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office. WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected within the hurricane warning area in Florida soon, with tropical storm conditions spreading northward and westward through this morning. Tropical storm conditions will continue 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. Hurricane conditions are possible in the Hurricane Watch area along the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina later today and tonight. Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin later today in the warning area along the east coast of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, and spread into North Carolina tonight and 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.
August 30, 20233 yr Tropical Storm conditions here in Citrus Park, where we are staying. We are 101 miles southeast of the eye, as of 5am. My place in Largo is 99 southeast of the eye. Here is a shot from there this morning.
August 30, 20233 yr Text from family...eye passed within 30 to 40 miles of their houses. They sustained no damage at either house. Only issue is no power, they feel very lucky this morning.
August 30, 20233 yr 22 minutes ago, nWo said: Idalia has been downgraded to a tropical storm. I saw one model that had a possibility of it spinning south and maybe swiping Miami or the Keys before its done. Is that still a possibility or is it just going to die off now?
August 31, 20233 yr We got back home around noon, today. Several bridges were closed so we had to take go a little out of our way. We never saw any of the damage or flooding being reported on the news in the Tampa Bay area, However, I did not venture down to the beach after getting home.
August 31, 20233 yr Author 8 hours ago, Jumper_Dad said: I saw one model that had a possibility of it spinning south and maybe swiping Miami or the Keys before its done. Is that still a possibility or is it just going to die off now? As of now, it appears that it will take a southeasterly track then Saturday evening turn northeasterly and move out over the Atlantic.
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