MIAMI, Aug 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tropical Storm Idalia strengthened into a hurricane Monday and could bring potentially catastrophic winds, heavy rain and flooding to Florida’s Gulf Coast as a powerful Category 3 storm later this week, prompting evacuations and school closures in parts of the state.
By Monday night, Idalia was “almost a hurricane” as it inched closer to the United States, and a life-threatening storm surge was becoming increasingly likely for parts of of Florida, the National Hurricane Center said.
The storm was packing 70 mph winds and was roughly 20 miles southwest of Cuba’s western tip Monday night, according to the center.
Idalia is predicted to continue getting rapidly stronger until it makes landfall in Florida, turning into a “major hurricane” by late Tuesday, the center warned.
Idalia will likely make landfall Wednesday along Florida’s Big Bend – a natural, storm surge-prone divot along the coast stretching from Tampa to just south of Tallahassee. Up to 12 feet of storm surge is forecast there.
Mandatory and voluntary evacuations were issued for at least eight counties with less than 48 hours before the storm is expected to make landfall in the state. And more than 5,000 National Guard members were activated to help respond to the storm.
“This is going to be a major impact,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a Monday news conference.
In Jacksonville, Mayor Donna Deegan declared a local state of emergency, saying several shelters were opening to accommodate people who may need to evacuate. — NNN-AGENCIES
