INSIDER
Florida residents loaded up on sandbags and evacuated from homes in low-lying areas along the Gulf Coast as Tropical Storm Idalia intensified Monday and forecasters predicted it would hit in days as a major hurricane with potentially life-threatening storm surges.
Tropical Storm Idalia is set to strengthen into a Category 3 hurricane and make landfall in Florida, so President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration and Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 46 counties.
A Tropical Storm Watch was issued Monday morning for the Lower Florida Keys as state officials prepare for possible impacts of Tropical Storm Idalia, which is expected to become a hurricane by Monday night.
Florida officials are warning drivers of “potentially widespread fuel contamination” impacting gas stations across the state's west coast as residents brace for Tropical Storm Idalia’s expected landfall later this week.
Tropical Storm Idalia, which formed late morning Sunday, is forecast to steadily strengthen into a hurricane today and intensify into a major (Category 3 or stronger) hurricane over the eastern Gulf of Mexico as it accelerates toward Florida’s Gulf Coast on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Florida residents are evacuating from homes in low-lying areas along the Gulf Coast as forecasters predict that Tropical Storm Idalia will hit the state as a major hurricane by Wednesday.
Tropical Storm Idalia intensified and was expected to be a major hurricane when it reaches Florida’s Gulf Coast later this week, the National Hurricane Center said Monday, as officials declared states of emergencies in dozens of counties and ordered some evacuations in preparation for potentially life-threatening storm surges.
A Tropical Storm Watch was issued Monday morning for the Lower Florida Keys as state officials prepare for possible impacts of Tropical Storm Idalia, which is expected to become a hurricane by Monday night.
Tropical Storm Idalia is expected to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds to parts of Florida later this week.
The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Idalia is near the coast of Cuba on a potential track to come ashore as a hurricane in the southern U.S. At 4 a.m. CDT Monday, the storm was about 125 miles off the western tip of Cuba with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph.
