TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Hurricane Idalia is currently a Category 1 hurricane over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. Sustained winds are now 90 mph with higher gusts. It has picked up forward speed and is moving north at 15 mph.
As the storm moves over warmer water in the Gulf, strengthening is expected to continue.
What is now a Category 1 Hurricane Idalia is forecast to become a major Category 3 hurricane before landfall Wednesday morning.
Hurricane Idalia will bring life-threatening storm surge, coastal flooding, inland flooding, and damaging wind to parts of the Big Bend Tuesday night through Wednesday.
Tropical Storm force winds are expected to be felt as soon as late Tuesday night with hurricane strength winds picking up overnight Tuesday into early Wednesday morning for the western side of the Big Bend.
Storm Surge Warnings, Hurricane Warnings and Watches, and Tropical Storm Warnings and Watches have all been issued for parts of our area where conditions could start deteriorating as soon as late Tuesday night.
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for the entire Big Bend coast including coastal portions of Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson, and Taylor counties. This is for the danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Leon, Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor, Lafayette, Suwannee, Hamilton, Brooks, Lowndes, Lanier, Echols, Clinch, coastal Franklin, and coastal Wakulla counties. This is for the expectation that hurricane conditions, winds 74+ mph, are expected somewhere in the warning zone over the next 48 hours.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for inland Franklin, Liberty, Gadsden, Decatur, Grady, Thomas, Colquitt, Cook, Berrien, and Mitchell counties. This is for the expectation that tropical storm conditions, winds 39+ mph, are expected somewhere in the warning zone over the next 48 hours.
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WTXL First to Know Weather team and WTXL news will be keeping you up-to-date on the latest on-air and online during the duration of this storm!
