Central Florida Hurricane Watch and Warnings Take Effect Idalia to Strengthen Possible Cat 3 Hurricane. Idalia is expected to strengthen to a Category 3 hurricane as it rides along the west coast of Florida by Tuesday afternoon. It will likely make landfall anywhere from Tampa Bay to the Big Bend of Florida late Tuesday into early Wednesday.
From Click Orlando: Central Florida will begin to see impacts as early as Tuesday morning. We could expect to experience tropical storm-force wind gusts in Polk, Sumter, and Lake counties Tuesday night into Wednesday. Most all of Central Florida could experience tropical storm-force wind gusts by 5 a.m. Wednesday.
“Tropical Storm Idalia is strengthening this AM and will become a hurricane today. The current forecast will bring Idalia into the eastern Gulf of Mexico tonight, and then rapid intensification of Idalia is expected up until landfall. If the track changes, these numbers change.”
By Wednesday, rainfall totals could reach 4 inches in Sumter and Lake counties. Even parts of far western Orange County could see 2-4 inches of rain before Wednesday is over.
Most of Central Florida could see between 1-3 inches of rain for areas of Orange, Seminole, Volusia, northern Lake, eastern Marion, Flagler, Osceola and Brevard. Rain chances will be up to 70% for Monday afternoon and evening as tropical moisture begins to build in well ahead of the tropical storm.
Central Florida Hurricane Watch and Warnings Take Effect Idalia to Strengthen Possible Cat 3 Hurricane
