On Monday, Tropical Storm Idalia was bolstering in the Caribbean, striking southeastern Mexico with wind and heavy rain, with forecasters expecting it will become a significant windstorm before reaching Florida later in the week.
US National Hurricane Center said that Idalia will travel across western Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico before arriving in northwest Florida
The US forecast agency added that the Storm was “strengthening as it closes Cuba” and “life-threatening storm surge and destructive winds are becoming increasingly likely for parts of Florida.
The forecast center’s advisory said that Idalia is predicted to become a hurricane later today and a hazardous significant hurricane over the northeastern Gulf of Mexico by early Wednesday.
The NHC predicted The storm will reach Florida by 7:00 am (1100 GMT) on Wednesday, in an image showing the storm’s likely path.
The NHC said that on Monday (0900 GMT), Idalia was whirling in the Caribbean, steered northeast with maximum sustained wind speeds of 60 miles.
Storm overflow and hurricane alerts have been issued for parts of Florida’s seaside and dispersed flash flooding can be expected, the NHC said.
Governor Ron DeSantis has announced a state of emergency in 33 counties in trial for the storm’s appearance.
