Hurricane, tropical storm and storm surge watches have been issued for parts of Florida as the state prepares for Idalia’s potential landfall.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) on Sunday upgraded Tropical Depression Ten near the southern Gulf of Mexico to Tropical Storm Idalia, and it is expected to make landfall as a hurricane along Florida’s Gulf Coast later this week. .
There are just days left for Floridians to prepare for the effects of the storm, and Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 33 counties to ensure communities have the resources they need before the storm hits.
DeSantis said at a news conference Sunday that everyone on Florida’s Gulf Coast needs to prepare.
The governor urged residents not to wait to prepare if they are outside the storm’s cone of uncertainty, recalling the forecast for Hurricane Ian last year, which potentially made landfall in the Florida Panhandle.
Ian made landfall in southwestern Florida as a major hurricane.
“The models probably match more than when we had Ian last year. But these things can change. There is still some uncertainty,” DeSantis said.
The FOX Forecast Center performs post-analysis of the data after any tropical system makes landfall to determine the consistency and accuracy of the forecast models.
The NHC issued a storm surge watch, hurricane watch and tropical storm watch for parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast on Sunday.
Additional watches and warnings may be issued for other areas along Florida’s Gulf Coast in the coming days.
“The models probably match more than when we had Ian last year. But these things can change. There is still some uncertainty,” DeSantis said. Fox Weather
Florida Division of Emergency Management executive director Kevin Guthrie said storm surge was the leading cause of death during Hurricane Ian.
“Don’t just focus on the cone. The cone is where the eye might go, but those hurricane-force and tropical-storm-force winds will extend well beyond what the cone represents,” Guthrie said. “We will have storm surge warnings and watches in the coming days.”
DeSantis said power companies will start hiring linemen Monday.
More than 1,000 National Guardsmen have been mobilized and are able to use high water vehicles and aircraft for rescue and recovery efforts.
Idalia is forecast to become a hurricane over the eastern Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, and the NHC is warning residents that there is an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge, flooding from torrential rains, and hurricane-force winds throughout parts of western Florida. coast and the Florida Panhandle starting Tuesday.
Guthrie said the state is preparing its ports to ensure fuel is available throughout Florida during and after the storm.
Over the weekend, the state learned of fuel contamination at gas stations served by the Port of Tampa.
Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 33 counties to ensure communities have the resources they need before the storm hits.FOX Weather
“We are coordinating the (Emergency Operations Center) here with everyone from oil retailers to the ports themselves to ensure the outage is not widespread or prolonged and that residents can have seamless access to fuel,” Guthrie said. .
DeSantis called the contamination “human error” and said they “put diesel in tanks that were supposed to be regular gasoline.”
If evacuation orders are issued, they will come locally from county officials, not the state.
“Many people I spoke to during Hurricane Ian don’t know the difference between a FEMA flood zone and an evacuation zone,” Guthrie said. “If you need to know where your evacuation zone is.”
Florida evacuation zones can be found on county emergency management websites or at your local property appraiser’s office.
Where is Tropical Storm Idalia?
According to the latest advisory from the NHC, Tropical Storm Idalia is located about 80 miles east-southeast of Cozumel, Mexico, and has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph with some stronger gusts. Idalia is moving toward the northeast at 3 mph.
Idalia is forecast to become a hurricane over the eastern Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday.FOX Weather
The NHC said Tropical Storm Idalia is expected to roam near the Yucatan Channel through Sunday night.
Where is Tropical Storm Idalia headed?
The NHC said Tropical Storm Idalia is expected to begin moving north at a faster rate on Monday, which will carry the system over the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
Tropical Storm Idalia is expected to continue moving north or northeast through Tuesday and Wednesday morning.
What watches/advisories for Tropical Storm Idalia are in effect?
The NHC issued a storm surge watch for the Florida Gulf Coast from Chokoloskee to Indian Pass, which includes the Tampa Bay area.
A storm surge watch means there is a possibility of life-threatening flooding from increased water moving inland from the coast in the next 48 hours.
A hurricane watch has been issued for the Florida Gulf Coast from Englewood to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay. A tropical storm watch has been issued for the Florida Gulf Coast south of Englewood to Chokoloskee and for the Dry Tortugas.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Yucatán Peninsula from Tulum to Río Largartos, including Cozumel, in Mexico. In Cuba, tropical storm warnings are in effect for Pinar del Río.
A storm surge watch means there is a possibility of life-threatening flooding from increased water moving inland from the coast in the next 48 hours.FOX Weather
A tropical storm watch is in effect for Isla de la Juventud, Cuba.
A tropical storm warning is issued when there are tropical storm force winds. expected within the storm warning area within 36 hours.
These winds may be accompanied by storm surge, coastal flooding, and/or river flooding.
Rainfall Impacts from Tropical Storm Idalia
Rainfall is expected to be one of the main impacts of the tropical cyclone.
Forecast models show that communities along Interstate 10 and west of Interstate 75 will see the highest rainfall totals.
The Apalachicola and Big Bend regions of Florida could receive the most precipitation, with 4 to 6 inches of rain over the next few days. When bands train in the same areas, some communities could see higher rainfall totals.
The state is preparing its ports to ensure fuel is available throughout Florida during and after the storm.FOX Weather
The FOX Forecast Center says there’s good news with tropical humidity: Many watching sites along the West Coast have experienced a rainfall deficit in 2023.
Tampa is more than a foot below normal precipitation and Naples is close to a 20-inch deficit.
Much-needed rainfall could improve and, for some communities, end the current drought.
Counties including Pinellas, Pasco and Citrus began offering sandbags over the weekend to help residents prepare for low-lying flooding.
Wind impacts from Tropical Storm Idalia
Due to uncertainties about the strength of the system, coastal residents along Florida’s Gulf Coast are urged to prepare for hurricane impacts.
The governor urges residents not to wait to prepare if they are outside the storm’s cone of uncertainty.FOX Weather
Sustained winds of at least 39 mph are capable of downing small branches and damaging trees, which can impact power lines.
Once sustained winds reach at least 40 mph, local first responders and emergency management typically close access to the bridges in an effort to keep high-profile vehicles safe.
The last tropical cyclone to make landfall in Florida was Hurricane Nicole in November. Nicole was a Category 1 cyclone that made landfall near Vero Beach.
The National Centers for Environmental Information estimated the damage caused by Nicole to be around $1 billion.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn