Hurricane tracking and response

GET READY NOW. Know where you will go and what you will do as the storms starts to head your way. Monday appears to be the best day to evacuate on your own accord even before official orders are given.

If you choose to evacuate, anywhere you can go out of and away from the projected path of the storm would be an option, including heading east from the western coast of Florida and southward. Another option would appear to be heading north and west toward Alabama. Remember, the forecast path can change so anywhere you go it is essential to follow up-to-the minute reports.

• The message from last year's hurricane that was forecast to hit Tampa but then devastated Ft. Myers to the south and that area is this: take the storm seriously. NO ONE KNOWS exactly where the storm will hit although the forecast into Tuesday should be more accurate than those prior.
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If you live in an area subject to storm surge from the ocean, evacuation is likely the best plan. If you live in an area with lots of trees around your house that can fall, consider the option to leave ahead of the storm. Consider that waiting to leave could be too late if roads become flooded and trees and power utility poles fall, plus there is always the threat of jammed roads if everyone tries to get out at once.

The entire cone of the forecast path should be taken as subject to being hit with impacts, never just the center of the cone. The storm surge warnings cover virtually all of the western coast of Florida, save the panhandle area to the west.

 NOTE, TAMPA: Last year's hurricane moved to the southern edge of the forecast cone and that is where Tampa is now, still in the warning cone and the storm could hit right there just as it did last year on Ft. Myers when the worst was expected elsewhere. Be ready and know it could hit your area.

KEY MESSAGES:

1. Catastrophic impacts from storm surge inundation of 10 to 16 feet above ground level and destructive waves are expected somewhere between Aucilla River and Yankeetown, Florida. Life-threatening storm surge inundation is likely elsewhere along portions of the Florida Gulf Coast where a Storm Surge Warning is in effect.  Residents in these areas should follow any advice given by local officials.

2. There is the potential for destructive life-threatening winds where the core of Idalia moves onshore in the Big Bend region of Florida, with hurricane conditions expected elsewhere in portions of the Hurricane Warning area along the Florida Gulf Coast. Strong winds will also spread inland across portions of northern Florida and southern Georgia near the track of the center of Idalia where Hurricane Warnings are in effect. Residents in these areas should be prepared for long-duration power outages. Damaging hurricane-force winds are possible in portions of eastern Georgia and southeastern
South Carolina where Hurricane Watches are in effect.

3. Areas of flash, urban, and moderate river flooding, with locally considerable impacts, are expected across the Florida Big Bend, central Georgia and South Carolina, through eastern North Carolina later tonight into Thursday.

How is the name of this hurricane pronounced? Here's what the Washington Post said:  Idalia 

(pronounced “ee-DAL-ya”)

TUESDAY EARLY AM COMMENT/UPDATE FROM THE NHC:

The new forecast is similar to the previous one, and confidence is increasing in an extremely dangerous major hurricane making landfall