IDALIA RAPIDLY INTENSIFIES INTO A CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE.
 | Wed, August 30, 2023 at 1:18 PM |
IDALIA RAPIDLY INTENSIFIES INTO A CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE.
CATASTROPHIC STORM SURGE AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS ARE NEARING THE FLORIDA BIG BEND REGION.
SUMMARY OF 500 AM EDT...0900 UTC...INFORMATION
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LOCATION...29.1N 84.1W
ABOUT 60 MI...95 KM W OF CEDAR KEY FLORIDA
ABOUT 90 MI...145 KM S OF TALLAHASSEE FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...130 MPH...215 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 25 DEGREES AT 18 MPH...30 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...940 MB...27.76 INCHES
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
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At 500 AM EDT (0900 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Idalia was located by Tallahassee radar near latitude 29.1 North, longitude 84.1 West.
Idalia is moving toward the north-northeast near 18 mph (30 km/h). A north-northeastward motion is expected through the morning, with Idalia's center forecast to reach the Big Bend coast of Florida this morning. After landfall, Idalia is forecast to turn toward the northeast and east-northeast, moving near or along the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina late today and Thursday.
Hurricane Hunter aircraft data indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 130 mph (215 km/h) with higher gusts. Idalia is a category 4 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. While Idalia should weaken after landfall, it is likely to still be a hurricane while moving across southern Georgia, and near the coast of Georgia or southern South Carolina late today. Idalia should emerge off the southeastern United States coast early on Thursday and move eastward through late week.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles(280 km).
The estimated minimum central pressure is 940 mb (27.76 inches) based on aircraft data.
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