Tropical Storm Idalia has strengthened into a hurricane and approached Florida’s Gulf Coast. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Franklin near Bermuda has developed into a Category 1 hurricane
Tropical Storm Idalia will strengthen into a hurricane and make landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast, meteorologists are warning.
A hurricane watch covers areas from Englewood to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay, while a tropical storm watch extends from Englewood to Chokoloskee and the Dry Tortugas. Idalia is currently near Cozumel, Mexico, with slow movement and 40mph winds. It’s predicted to pass through the Yucatán Channel, affecting parts of Yucatán, Mexico, and western Cuba.
The storm is forecasted to intensify and become a Category 2 hurricane, posing a notable risk of rapid intensification due to warm Gulf waters. Idalia could bring 3 to 6 inches of rain to western Cuba, Florida’s west coast, Panhandle, and southern Georgia, potentially causing flash flooding.
Florida is preparing for storm surges, heavy rain, and hurricane-force winds, with a Level 1 emergency operations centre activated. The storm might reach the Gulf of Mexico by Monday, becoming a hurricane by Tuesday and hitting Florida by Wednesday. The strength depends on factors like warm water and wind shear.