Florida is bracing itself for its next tropical storm. Idalia, which is moving up from the Gulf of Mexico, is expcted to reach the state's shores on Tuesday, according to weather forecasts. According to forecasts from the National Hurricane Center, Idalia is expected to make landfall in Florida throughout Tuesday. The intensity of the hurricane may also be affected by the supermoon phenomenon, which alters the tide and wave level.
Idalia first passed over the western flank of the island of Cuba and severely affected the province of Pinar del Río. Heavy rains fell there throughout the hurricane's passage over the island. The Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, was also affected by gusts of wind and rain from Idalia.
Here you can follow live the map of Idalia's trajectory:
(windy.com)
By Tuesday, Idalia will have reached Florida's west coast that faces the interior of the gulf. Then, according to the Hurricane Nations Center, Idalia could take on a Category 3 intensity with winds around 110 mph. Throughout the day it will rise to the north and during Wednesday it will cross the state from west to east and head northeast.
In a statement, the National Hurricane Center said it was still too early to know which specific counties and populations would be at most risk from Idalia. However, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a declaration of a state of emergency for 33 counties in the state. De Santis also exempted several roads in the affected areas from tolls.
Along with the state of emergency, the state government also ordered evacuations for 21 counties. Those with coastal areas will be especially affected by the Category 3 hurricane. Gov. DeSantis asked residents to take these measures seriously and move inland if they reside in an evacuation area. In some of the counties, evacuation is voluntary.
I’ve signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency for 33 counties in preparation for Invest 93L. Issuing this order today ensures communities have time to prepare for the storm system which could have impacts along the Gulf Coast next week.
Floridians should have a…
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) August 26, 2023
Counties in a state of emergency:
Bay, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Alachua, Hamilton, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, and Wakulla.
Counties with evacuation orders:
Mandatory evacuation: Citrus, Dixie, Gulf, Lafayette, Levy, Pasco, Pinellas, Suwanee, Taylor.
Voluntary evacuation: Baker, Franklin, Gilchrist, Hernando, Jefferson, Madison, Wakulla.
Evacuation according to the area: Hillsbirough, Manatee, Marion, Union, Volusia, Sarasota.
Details for each county and area are available on the Florida Emergency Service website.
Gov. DeSantis asked Floridians to "have a plan in place and make sure your hurricane supply kit is stocked."
The National Hurricane Center expects Idalia to leave flooding in urban areas affected by heavy rains. He called them "sudden" and "scattered." It also forecasts strong hurricane-force winds.
Here are the Key Messages for Hurricane Idalia for the Tuesday am advisory. #Idalia is expected to intensify into an extremely dangerous major hurricane before landfall along the west coast or Big Bend region of Florida. More: https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ pic.twitter.com/AV2NrctxlN
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 29, 2023
