Florida was bracing for the first major hurricane of the season to make landfall on Wednesday, as Hurricane Idalia continued to strengthen and was expected to spark “catastrophic” storm surge impacts to the Florida Big Bend.
Hurricane Idalia intensified into a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday. Meteorologists predicted that the storm would strengthen even more into a Category 3 hurricane with 115 mph winds by the time it slams into the Florida coast on Wednesday.
The National Hurricane Center was warning about “catastrophic” impacts from storm surge inundation of 10 to 15 feet above ground level, along with destructive waves between the Aucilla River and Yankeetown. Evacuation orders were issued for those in the path of the storm along the coast, on barrier islands, and in low-lying areas.
National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome pointed to the small community of Cedar Key, off the northwest coast of Florida.
“You gotta get out of there,” Rhome said. “Those conditions are not at all survivable.”
“If you’ve been ordered to evacuate, it is imperative that you follow those instructions immediately,” he added.
There’s also the potential for destructive life-threatening winds where the core of Idalia moves onshore in the Big Bend region of Florida — with hurricane conditions expected elsewhere along the Florida Gulf Coast.
Residents in these areas were being told to prepare for power outages.
“Hurricane #Idalia will likely be an unprecedented event for many locations in the Florida Big Bend,” NWS Tallahassee tweeted. “Looking back through recorded history, NO major hurricanes have ever moved through the Apalachee Bay. When you try to compare this storm to others, DON’T. No one has seen this.”
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Areas of rainfall-induced flooding are expected from the Florida Big Bend all the way to North Carolina through Thursday. Up to 10 inches of rain will be possible.
Florida had tens of thousands of utility workers staged for power restoration, along with search and rescue teams in place.
“You are going to lose power if you’re in the path of this storm,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a press conference. “You should assume that that’s going to happen, and the goal is going to be rapid restoration of power.”
Those under evacuation orders don’t need to drive hundreds of miles away, he noted.
“Just get to higher ground, get into a safe structure, ride out the storm, and you can go back to your place,” the governor said.
He warned residents in the areas where the 10- to 15-foot storm surge is possible.
“You’re not going to win that battle if you decide to stay behind for that,” DeSantis said.
Meanwhile, locally in Massachusetts, beachgoers were being told to watch out for rip currents due to the large waves brought on by Hurricane Franklin far out in the Atlantic Ocean. The highest risk for rip currents were along the south-facing ocean beaches of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. Cape Cod has a moderate risk.
“Dangerous rip currents expected near southern New England as Hurricane Franklin’s swells approach,” NWS Boston tweeted. “Stick close to lifeguards, stay calm if caught, swim parallel to shore to escape, or signal for help facing the shore.”