The Atlantic Hurricane Season is ramping up, and the National Hurricane Center (NHC) is tracking three systems in the Atlantic basin: Tropical Storm Idalia, Hurricane Franklin and a tropical wave expected to move off the coast of Africa.
Tropical Storm Idalia was intensifying Monday, and is expected to become a Category 3 hurricane before making landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast Wednesday as a major hurricane which included possibility of storm surge and flooding.
“Life-threatening storm surge and dangerous winds are becoming increasingly likely for portions of Florida,” the National Hurricane Center said. Up to 11 feet of ocean water could surge over the Florida shoreline and along inland rivers and creeks as the storm rolls in, raising concerns for flooding that could be extensive.
As USA Today reports, a hurricane warning was issued Monday morning for portions of Florida Gulf Coast and a tropical storm watch was issued for the east coast of Florida from Sebastian Inlet north. Hurricane watches were in effect along more than 300 miles of the Florida Coast − from Longboat Key, 60 miles south of Tampa, to the Ochlockonee River near Tallahassee. A major hurricane is a Category 3, 4 or 5 storm or higher on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind speed scale. A storm becomes a Category 3 hurricane when when maximum wind speeds reach at least 111 mph.
The Palm Beach Post reported that Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency ahead of Tropical Storm Idalia and urged all residents to be prepared. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor declared a state of emergency for the city. A surge of up to 7 feet is possible in the Tampa Bay area, and any shift eastward in the storm’s path could increase the dangers for the sprawling metropolitan area.
Georgia, South and North Carolina and Virginia will be the next targets as Idalia sweeps over Florida, forecasters say. Up to 8 inches and wind gusts of more than 40 mph are likely through eastern Georgia and the Carolinas and possibly Virginia later in the week and approaching Labor Day weekend.
“By late week, the storm can turn toward the east and re-emerge over the Atlantic Ocean,” Buckingham said. “At this point, little re-intensification can be expected, and the system will be moving away from the East Coast toward Bermuda.”
As if Idalia isn’t enough to worry about, Hurricane Franklin was rapidly intensifying early Monday and reached Category 4 strength with maximum sustained winds estimated at 145 mph. The first “major” hurricane of the season, the storm was centered more than 400 miles north of Grand Turk Island and moving north-northwest at 8 mph.
Later this week Franklin will hit Bermuda, AccuWeather said. Franklin is also expected to have an impact on the U.S. East Coast, where “rough surf and rip currents could imperil swimmers as summer winds down,” AccuWeather meteorologists warned.
Farther east, a tropical wave moving off the coast of Africa has a medium chance of becoming a tropical depression later this week. The next named storm of the season will be Jose.
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