Hurricane Idalia live updates: Storm reaches Cat 3 status, expected to strengthen to Cat 4 by landfall
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ORLANDO, Fla. - CLICK HERE for the latest Hurricane Idalia updates on Wednesday
Hurricane Idalia became a Category 3 storm early Wednesday morning on its path to Florida, the National Hurricane Center said.
The storm is expected to rapidly intensify into an extremely dangerous major hurricane before making landfall in the state on Wednesday.
4:20 a.m. | A TORNADO WARNING continues for Bithlo, Wedgefield and Lake Mary Jane until 4:30 a.m.
4:07 a.m. | A TORNADO WARNING has been issued for Osceola and Orange counties, including Saint Cloud FL, Bithlo FL, and Wedgefield FL until 4:30 a.m.
Hurricane Idalia 2AM Update
Hurricane Idalia reached Category 3 strength early Wednesday morning as maximum sustained winds increased to 120 mph. Additional strengthening is forecast, and Idalia is expected to become a major hurricane – possibly a Category 4 storm – before it reaches the Big Bend of Florida.
In the National Hurricane Center's 2 a.m. advisory, the center of the storm was located about 100 miles southwest of Cedar Key and 175 miles south of Tallahassee. The window for a possible landfall has been pushed to mid-to-late Wednesday morning.
Idalia's speed has slowed to 15 mph as the storm's center continues movement due north, with Idalia's center forecast to reach the Big Bend by 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. After landfall, the center of Idalia is forecast to turn toward the northeast and east, moving near or along the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina late Wednesday and Thursday.
Idalia is likely to still be a hurricane while moving across southern Georgia, and possibly when it reaches the coast of Georgia or southern South Carolina on Wednesday.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles. The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline, with heights of 12 to 15 feet above ground.
Watches and Warnings
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:
- Englewood northward to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:
- Middle of Longboat Key northward to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
- Chokoloskee northward to the Middle of Longboat Key
- West of Indian Pass to Mexico Beach
- Sebastian Inlet, Florida to Altamaha Sound, Georgia
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for:
- Bonita Beach northward to Englewood, including Charlotte Harbour
- Mouth of the St. Mary's River to South Santee River South Carolina
- Beaufort Inlet to Drum Inlet North Carolina
- Neuse and Pamlico Rivers North Carolina
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:
- Mouth of the St. Mary's River to Edisto Beach South Carolina
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:
- North of Surf City North Carolina to the North Carolina/Virginia border
- Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds
1:50 a.m. | A TORNADO WARNING has been issued for Polk County including Avon Park FL and Frostproof FL until 2 a.m.
Hurricane Idalia 11PM Update
Hurricane Idalia 11pm update: Storm grows
Hurricane Idalia was near Category 3 strength late Tuesday evening as maximum sustained winds increased to 110 mph. Additional strengthening is forecast, and Idalia is expected to become a major hurricane – possibly a Category 4 storm – before it reaches the Big Bend coast of Florida.
Hurricane Idalia was near Category 3 strength late Tuesday evening as maximum sustained winds increased to 110 mph. Additional strengthening is forecast, and Idalia is expected to become a major hurricane – possibly a Category 4 storm – before it reaches the Big Bend of Florida.
In the National Hurricane Center's 11 p.m. advisory, the center of the storm was located about 125 miles west-southwest of Tampa and 185 miles south of Tallahassee. The window for a possible landfall has been pushed to mid-to-late Wednesday morning.
Idalia has picked up speed with movement at 18 mph to the north-northeast, with Idalia's center forecast to reach the Big Bend coast of Florida on Wednesday morning. After landfall, the center of Idalia is forecast to turn toward the northeast and east, moving near or along the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina late Wednesday and Thursday.
Idalia is likely to still be a hurricane while moving across southern Georgia, and possibly when it reaches the coast of Georgia or southern South Carolina on Wednesday.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles. The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline, with heights of 12 to 15 feet above ground.
8: 27 p.m. | TORNADO WATCH: A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Florida until 6 a.m., including Alachua, Dixie, Gilchrist, Lake, Levy, Marion, Polk, and Sumter counties.
Hurricane Idalia 8PM Update
Hurricane Idalia 8pm update: Nearing Cat 3
Idalia remained a powerful Category 2 hurricane Tuesday evening and was showing signs of strengthening with maximum sustained winds at 105 mph. In the National Hurricane Center's 8 p.m. advisory, the center of the storm was located about 155 miles west-southwest of Tampa and 245 miles south of Tallahassee.
Idalia remained a powerful Category 2 hurricane Tuesday evening and was showing signs of strengthening with maximum sustained winds at 105 mph. In the National Hurricane Center's 8 p.m. advisory, the center of the storm was located about 155 miles west-southwest of Tampa and 245 miles south of Tallahassee.
Idalia's present movement is at 16 mph to the north-northeast, with Idalia's center forecast to reach the Big Bend coast of Florida on Wednesday morning. After landfall, the center of Idalia is forecast to turn toward the northeast and east, moving near or along the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina late Wednesday and Thursday.
Additional strengthening is forecast, and Idalia is expected to become a major hurricane tonight before it reaches the Big Bend coast of Florida.
Idalia is likely to still be a hurricane while moving across southern Georgia, and possibly when it reaches the coast of Georgia or southern South Carolina on Wednesday.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles. The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline, with heights of 12 to 15 feet above ground.
7 p.m. | Several grocery store chains have announced limited hours and/or closures ahead of Hurricane Idalia. Publix plans to close some 30 stores in Alachua, Citrus, Columbia, Marion, and Suwannee counties. Winn-Dixie also closed dozens of its grocery stores in Florida, including in Orlando, Tampa, and Gainesville. See which stores are impacted here.
6:48 p.m. | Alachua County has issued a mandatory evacuation for residents living in mobile and manufactured homes, substandard housing, and areas prone to flooding. Find shelter information here.
6:32 p.m. | The Daytona Beach International Airport continues to operate under normal conditions and hours, and there are currently no cancelations for flights scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. Travelers should continue to check with their airline for any updates on their upcoming flight here.
Hurricane Idalia 5PM Update
Hurricane Idalia 5pm update: Now Cat. 2 Hurricane
Hurricane Idalia strengthened to a category 2 hurricane and has sustained winds of 100 mph as it makes its way across the Gulf of Mexico into Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center. It's forecast to strengthen to a category 3 hurricane before making landfall near Tallahassee.
Idalia had strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane early Tuesday evening with maximum sustained winds at 100 mph. The center of the storm was located about 195 miles southwest of Tampa and 300 miles south of Tallahassee.
Idalia is moving toward the north near 16 mph and a northward to north-northeastward motion is expected through the night, with Idalia's center forecast to reach the Big Bend coast of Florida on Wednesday morning. After landfall, the center of Idalia is forecast to turn toward the northeast and east, moving near or along the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina late Wednesday and Thursday.
Additional strengthening is forecast, and Idalia is expected to become a major hurricane tonight before it reaches the Big Bend coast of Florida.
2 p.m. UCF closing | The University of Central Florida (UCF) has canceled classes for Wednesday, Aug, 30, ahead of Hurricane Idalia. Residents' halls will remain open, though students are not encouraged to leave campus.
UCF employees should stay home. Some campus cafeterias will open at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, including ‘63 South and Knightro’s. The John C. Hitt Library, Recreation and Wellness Center, and Student Union will open at 3 p.m.
UCF plans to reopen.
2PM Osceola County Schools closing | Osceola County Schools has decided to cancel classes on Wednesday due to Hurricane Idalia. The district initially planned on holding classes.
2 p.m. intermediate advisory | Hurricane Idalia's squalls are overspreading across portions of the lower Florida Keys and the southwestern coast of Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center. Parts of Florida's Gulf Coast can expect life-threatening storm surge and hurricane conditions on Tuesday night and Wednesday.
The storm is located about 130 miles west-northwest of the Dry Tortugas and about 240 miles southwest of Tampa. Idalia is moving north at 15 mph with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph, making it a strong Category 1 storm.
Idalia is still forecast to become a major hurricane when it reaches Florida's Gulf Coast on Wednesday morning.
11 a.m. advisory | Hurricane Idalia continues to strengthen and is expected to bring life-threatening storm surge and hurricane conditions to parts of Florida's Gulf Coast on Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The hurricane dislocated about 120 miles west of the Dry Tortugas and 275 miles south-southwest of Tampa as of 11 a.m. Tuesday. Idalia has maximum sustained winds of 85 mph, making it a strong Category 1 storm, as it moves north at 14 mph.
Idalia is expected to move toward the north and north-northeast is expected through early Wednesday as it approaches Florida's Gulf Coast. Idalia is also expected to turn toward the northeast and east-northeast late Wednesday and Thursday. The center of the storm is expected to move near or along the coast of Georgia and the Carolinas then.
Idalia is forecast to become a major hurricane when it reaches Florida's Gulf Coast on Wednesday morning.
Watches and Warnings
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:
- Englewood northward to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:
- Cuban province of Pinar del Rio
- Middle of Longboat Key northward to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
- Isle of Youth Cuba
- Dry Tortugas Florida
- Chokoloskee northward to the Middle of Longboat Key
- West of Indian Pass to Mexico Beach
- Sebastian Inlet, Florida to Altamaha Sound, Georgia
- Altamaha Sound, Georgia, to northward South Santee River, South Carolina
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for:
- Chokoloskee northward to Englewood, including Charlotte Harbour
- Mouth of the St. Mary's River to South Santee River South Carolina
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:
- Englewood to the Middle of Longboat Key
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:
- Lower Florida Keys west of the west end of the Seven Mile Bridge
- Altamaha Sound northward to South Santee River South Carolina
- South Santee River to northward Surf City, North Carolina
IMPORTANT LINKS
- List: school closures
- FOX 35 Orlando Hurricane Center: Maps, models, latest track for Tropical Storm Idalia
- Shelter information
- Download FOX 35 News, FOX 35 Storm Team apps
9:00 a.m. | Gov. Ron DeSantis' shared an update at 9 a.m. Watch it below:
8 a.m. advisory | NOAA Hurricane Hunters said Hurricane Idalia is getting stronger.
"On the forecast track, the center of Idalia is forecast to move over the eastern Gulf of Mexico today, reach the Gulf coast of Florida within the Hurricane Warning area on Wednesday, and move close to the Carolina coastline on Thursday," the NHC said.
5 a.m. advisory | The heaviest weather will be in play for most of Central Florida late Tuesday and through the day on Wednesday. Destructive winds will occur along the Florida Gulf Coast's Big Bend Region with huge impacts in Levy and Dixie counties. Winds over 100 mph are possible in these areas on Wednesday morning.
Watches and Warnings
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:
- Englewood northward to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:
- Cuban province of Pinar del Rio
- Middle of Longboat Key northward to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
- Isle of Youth Cuba
- Dry Tortugas Florida
- Chokoloskee northward to the Middle of Longboat Key
- West of Indian Pass to Mexico Beach
- Sebastian Inlet, Florida to Altamaha Sound, Georgia
- A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for Chokoloskee northward to Englewood, including Charlotte Harbour
- Mouth of the St. Mary's River to South Santee River South Carolina
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:
- Englewood to the Middle of Longboat Key
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:
- Lower Florida Keys west of the west end of the Seven Mile Bridge
- Altamaha Sound northward to South Santee River South Carolina