Hurricane Idalia Intensifies to Category 4, Florida Braces for Catastrophic Impact

Florida is under siege as Hurricane Idalia intensifies to a Category 4 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph, according to the National Weather Service. The storm, currently about 60 miles west of Cedar Key and 90 miles south of Tallahassee, is advancing at 18 mph and threatens to bring catastrophic storm surges and destructive winds to Florida's Big Bend Region.

Multiple advisories are in effect, covering areas well beyond Florida. A Hurricane Warning extends from Altamaha Sound, Georgia to Edisto Beach, South Carolina. Storm Surge Warnings are in place from St. Catherine's Sound to South Santee River, affecting parts of Georgia and South Carolina. Tropical Storm Warnings have been issued from North of Surf City, North Carolina, to the North Carolina/Virginia border, including Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds.

The Tropical Storm Warning previously in effect for Florida's west coast from Bonita Beach southward has been discontinued.

Storm Path and Outlook

The hurricane is expected to make landfall in Florida's Big Bend region this morning, with the potential for further intensification before landfall. After that, the system is forecasted to move near or along the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Although expected to weaken after making landfall, Idalia is likely to remain a hurricane as it moves across southern Georgia and along the coast of Georgia or southern South Carolina.