Hurricane watches in effect for several Florida counties as Tropical Storm Idalia strengthens
The National Hurricane Center on Sunday upgraded Tropical Depression 10 to Tropical Storm Idalia. Idalia was expected to strengthen into a hurricane over the Eastern Gulf of Mexico in a couple of days.
The hurricane center issued storm surge and hurricane watches for portions of Florida's Gulf Coast on Sunday afternoon. Idalia was about 95 miles east-southeast of Cozumel, Mexico.
On Saturday, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency for 33 Florida counties to prepare for the potential storm. Click here to see if your county made the list.
As Florida enters the busiest part of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs June 1 to Nov. 30, the second tax-free holiday of the year began Aug. 26 and runs through Sept. 8. The 14-day tax-free period was added this year, ending right before the peak time of hurricane season, which happens Sept. 10. Although hurricanes can happen any time, historically, August through October is the busiest time.
WeatherTiger: Idalia forecast: Florida faces a major hurricane threat; Prepare now
Common household items found in a hurricane kit are exempt from sales tax during the two-week period. The tax holidays also include some items related to the safe evacuation of household pets.
Here's the latest update from the NHC for Sunday, Aug. 27.
Tropical Storm Idalia expected to become a hurricane on Monday
At 5 p.m. Sunday, the center of Tropical Storm Idalia was moving toward the northeast near 3 mph. A slow, possiblyerratic, motion is expected overnight. A generally northward to north-northeastward motion at an increasing forward speed is expected on Monday and Tuesday. On the forecast track, the center will move over the eastern Gulf of Mexico on Monday and Tuesday, and approach the northeast Gulf coast late Tuesday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast, and Idalia is expected to become a hurricane over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico by early Tuesday. Additional strengthening is likely while Idalia approaches the northeastern Gulf coast.
Did your home county make the list? DeSantis issues state of emergency for 33 counties ahead of storm moving toward Florida
Where is Tropical Storm Idalia headed? Track the storm
Rainfall from Tropical Storm Idalia?
Tropical Storm Idalia is expected to produce the following rainfall amounts:
Portions of the eastern Yucatan: 2 to 4 inches, with isolated higher totals of 6 inches.
Western Cuba: 3 to 6 inches, with isolated higher totals of 10 inches.
Portions of the west coast of Florida, the Florida Panhandle, and southern Georgia: From Tuesday into Wednesday, 3 to 6 inches, with isolated higher totals of 10 inches.
Heavy rainfall is also likely to spread into portions of the Carolinas by Wednesday into Thursday.
This rainfall may lead to flash and urban flooding, and landslides across western Cuba. Scattered flash and urban flooding can also be expected across portions of the west coast of Florida, the Florida Panhandle and portions of the Southeast U.S. by Tuesday into Thursday.
Wind from Tropical Storm Idalia?
Tropical storm conditions are expected over portions of the warning area over the Yucatan Peninsula and western Cuba through Monday. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area on the Isle of Youth on Monday.
Hurricane conditions are possible within the hurricane watch area by late Tuesday or Wednesday, with tropical storm conditions possible by Tuesday.
Tropical storm conditions are possible in the Dry Tortugas beginning late Monday and within the tropical storm watch area along the Florida Gulf coast on Tuesday.
Storm surge from Tropical Storm Idalia?
The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide:
Aucilla River, Florida, to Chassahowitzka, Florida: 7 to 11 feet
Chassahowitzka, Florida, to Anclote River, Florida: 5 to 8 feet
Ochlockonee River, Florida, to Aucilla River: 4 to 7 feet
Anclote River to Middle of Longboat Key, Florida: 3 to 5 feet
Tampa Bay: 3 to 5 feet
Middle of Longboat Key to Chokoloskee, Florida: 2 to 4 feet
Charlotte Harbor: 2 to 4 feet
Indian Pass, Florida, to Ochlockonee River, Florida: 2 to 4 feet
Chokoloskee to East Cape Sable, Florida: 1 to 3 feet
Florida Keys: 1 to 2 feet
The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.
Storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels along the southern coast of Pinar del Rio, Cuba. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large waves.
Spaghetti models for Tropical Storm Idalia
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Tropical Storm Idalia headed for Florida, hurricane watches in effect
