“If you are in the path of the storm, you should expect power outages so please prepare for that,” the governor told residents. Power companies will also start staging personnel on Monday, the governor said. The airport announced it aimed to reopen Thursday morning, after taking stock of what damage the storm left behind.ĭeSantis expanded an emergency declaration to 46 of 67 Florida counties on Monday morning. Tampa International Airport announced it would cease all commercial operations by 12:01 a.m. “If and when the governor issues an evacuation order, that means your life is in danger,” Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw warned. The evacuation orders in Hillsborough County include parts of the Tampa area. Mandatory evacuations were ordered Monday for Pasco, Manatee, Hernando, Taylor, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Sarasota and Citrus counties for low-lying coastal areas and vulnerable structures.

“There are going to be evacuation orders issued in all these Gulf Coast counties in the A and B zones (and) all the barrier islands places that are low-lying on the coast,” DeSantis said. Mandatory and voluntary evacuations were issued in multiple Florida counties Monday morning, which DeSantis warned would expand. “These are areas you don’t want to be in if you’ve been asked to evacuate,” Brennan said.Ī storm surge warning – which means there’s a life-threatening danger from rising waters – is in effect from Englewood, Florida, all the way north to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay. From Idalia, 8 to 12 feet of surge was predicted, something Michael Brennan, the National Hurricane Center’s director, called “our biggest concern.”

“It happens quickly and can endanger you, your family & your home,” the Florida Division of Emergency Management agency warned.ĭuring Hurricane Ian, 10 to 15 feet of storm surge wiped buildings off their foundations in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. Storm surge, which is when a storm blows the ocean onshore, is one of the deadliest aspects of a hurricane and the reason behind most storm evacuations. Life-threatening storm surge up to 12 feet is possible in Florida’s Big Bend which will only be worsened by waves driven by hurricane-force winds in excess of 100 mph. Idalia’s life-threatening storm surge ‘our biggest concern’ Gusty winds are likely across a large portion of Florida, including inland areas, by Tuesday night as Idalia’s outer bands lap inland.Ī large swath of Florida is expected to experience impacts from Idalia, but the worst of what the storm has to offer will stretch from Tampa northward through the Big Bend region and into portions of the Panhandle.Ĭonditions will deteriorate rapidly in these areas Tuesday overnight into Wednesday morning as landfall draws closer. Wind speeds will increase across the Florida Keys and the state’s southwestern coast as early as Tuesday morning. Impacts from Idalia will be felt from the Florida Keys to portions of the state’s western coast as soon as Tuesday. After the storm makes landfall, damaging winds and heavy rain will spread far inland into Florida, parts of Georgia and even the Carolinas.

Impacts well outside the cone: Storm surge, wind and rain will affect much of Florida’s Gulf Coast.

A small shift in the track could dramatically affect Tampa: If Idalia were to make landfall farther south than currently forecast, Tampa could be hit with stronger winds and a larger storm surge.

Rapid intensification is expected: Idalia is forecast to rapidly intensify from a Category 1 hurricane Monday night to a powerful Category 3 hurricane just 24 hours later as it tracks over exceptionally warm water in the Gulf of Mexico.

In Jacksonville, Mayor Donna Deegan declared a local state of emergency, saying several shelters were opening to accommodate people who may need to evacuate.įollow live updates: Idalia forces evacuations as it heads toward Florida. Ron DeSantis said in a Monday news conference. “This is going to be a major impact,” Florida Gov. And more than 5,000 National Guard members were activated to help respond to the storm.

Mandatory and voluntary evacuations were issued for at least 10 counties, including Hillsborough County, home to Tampa, which issued a mandatory evacuation for some coastal areas. Up to 12 feet of storm surge is forecast there. 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. Idalia is expected to rapidly intensify in the extremely warm Gulf of Mexico. Dark clouds from tropical storm Idalia blanket the skies in Havana, on August 28, 2023.

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