Hurricane Idalia has strengthened to a category four as it moves towards northwest Florida, posing the risk of “catastrophic” impacts, notably a dangerous storm surge. Idalia might further intensify before reaching Florida’s Big Bend coast.
Hurricane Idalia intensified early Wednesday as it hurtled towards northwest Florida, threatening “catastrophic” impacts including a dangerous storm surge, with officials forecasting it will slam the coast within hours as an extreme and historic Category 4 storm.
Authorities in the southern US state described Idalia, and it is potentially deadly storm surge as a once-in-a-lifetime event for Florida’s northwest coast, as they ordered mass evacuations and issued flood alerts ahead of a projected landfall Wednesday morning.
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said, “Idalia is a category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Idalia could continue to strengthen before it reaches the Big Bend coast of Florida in a few hours.”
“Idalia is likely to still be a hurricane while moving across southern Georgia, and possibly when it reaches the coast of Georgia or southern South Carolina late today.”
The NHC said that warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico are expected to further turbocharge Idalia, with wind speeds of 130 to 156 mph.
It warned of a potentially disastrous storm surge in some coastal areas of 12 to 16 feet (3.5 to 5 meters).
Category 3 or higher storms on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale are considered significant weather events.
Governor Ron DeSantis urged those in the evacuation areas in 23 counties along Florida’s Gulf coast to go “now” and head to shelters or hotels outside the danger zones.
US President Joe Biden spoke with DeSantis on Monday and approved an emergency declaration for Florida, which unblocks federal funds and resources. FEMA has already sent hundreds of emergency personnel into the storm zone.
Tampa International Airport closed before Idalia’s arrival, while flights were disrupted along the US east coast as another hurricane, Franklin, churned in the Atlantic.
Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina are also under storm watches as Idalia is expected to cross northeast over Florida before exiting into the Atlantic.
In Cuba, the storm flooded several communities, including parts of the capital, Havana, and knocked out power to about 200,000 people, but no deaths were reported.
The storm then moved out over the Gulf, which scientists say is experiencing a “marine heat wave,” energizing Idalia’s winds as it raced towards Florida.
Scientists have warned that storms are becoming more potent as the world warms due to climate change.
Miroslava Salazar, with AFP
