Catastrophic storm surge of 10-15 feet are expected north of Yankeetown, Florida, in a latest update about Hurricane Idalia, expected to make a landfall in Florida on Wednesday.
The National Weather Service Tampa Bay tweeted the latest update on the hurricane that is gradually strengthening in wind speed as it makes its way to the Sunshine State. According to the latest update, “Storm surge inundation of 10-15 feet above the ground level and destructive waves are expected somewhere between Aucilla River and Yankeetown, Florida.”
“Life-threatening storm surge inundation is likely elsewhere along the portions of the Florida Gulf Coast where a Storm Surge Warning is in effect. Residents in this area should follow any advice or evacuation orders given by local officials,” the NWS Tampa Bay added.
The update also mentioned that the core of Idalia, with its destructive, life-threatening winds, is currently moving onshore in the Big Bend region of Florida. Portions of the Gulf Coast is under a Hurricane Warning and the low lying areas have been evacuated. Residents have also been warned to prepare for long-duration power outages.
Strong winds will also spread inland across portions of northern Florida and southern Georgia near the track of the center of Idalia. Portions of west coast of Florida, Florida Panhandle and southern Georgia are expected to experience flash and urban flooding on Tuesday and Wednesday. Eastern Carolinas are expected to go through the same experience on Wednesday and Thursday.
Residents were urged to prepare for an expected Wednesday landfall, which the National Hurricane Center projected could have sustained winds of up to 120 mph. The storm’s growing intensity and its north-leaning path is expected to put 14 million Floridians under hurricane and tropical storm warnings along the Gulf of Mexico.
