Tropical Storm Idalia could reach strength before hitting Florida this week

The Florida Panhandle Hurricane Idalia Expected to Cross the Atlantic Ocean Monday Night Until Late Atmospheric Occurrence

A separate hurricane, Franklin, was active in the western Atlantic Ocean on Sunday. Franklin was expected to impact parts of Bermuda but not make a direct hit on the continental U.S., though Rhome noted that the storm could produce rip currents on beaches along the East Coast.

Although Idalia is not projected to be a major storm, the states of Georgia and the Carolinas will see some rain later in the week.

Forecasters say Idalia will then move north through the Gulf of Mexico, where it will strengthen into a powerful hurricane, before coming ashore in Florida midweek.

“The risk continues to increase for life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force winds along portions of the west coast of Florida and the Florida Panhandle beginning as early as late Tuesday,” the National Weather Service said in a tweet.

Florida’s Division of Emergency Management is encouraging residents with vehicles to keep their gas tanks at least half-full in case officials order any evacuations.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 33 counties and authorities there have begun preparing storm response resources, such as high-water vehicles and boats.

Idalia is expected to cross the island nation Monday evening according to the National Hurricane Center. There were warnings for hurricanes in the Cuban province of Pinar del Ro and the Dominican island of the Isla de la Juventud.

“If you’re anywhere along the western Florida peninsula, you really ought to be paying attention even if you’re outside the cone,” said Jamie Rhome, deputy director of the National Hurricane Center.

The tropical storm system churning in the waters east of Cancún, Mexico, is expected to batter western Cuba late Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Florida School District Closures, Power Outages, Evacuation Orders, and the Idalia Hurricane: a Preliminary Press Conference

A number of Florida school districts announced that they were closing Tuesday, and the state’s Department of Health was trying to make sure residents could fill their prescriptions early.

During his press conference, DeSantis warned residents to prepare for power outages and said there would likely be evacuation orders in counties along the Gulf Coast.

“All the barrier islands, places that are low-lying along the coast, and you are going to be told to evacuate,” said DeSantis, adding that it could take as little as tens of miles inland.

The White House said President Biden and DeSantis spoke Monday about preparations for Idalia. The Federal Emergency Management Agency was in Florida ahead of the storm and Biden said he approved an emergency declaration for the state.

This is going to be a big storm. This is gonna be a powerful hurricane, and this is absolutely gonna impact the state of Florida in many, many different ways,” DeSantis said during a Monday morning press conference.