Tropical Storm Idalia Forecast To Hit Florida As A Hurricane

Tropical Storm Idalia continues to strengthen in the Gulf of Mexico as it churns towards the western coast of Florida. Idalia is forecast to become a Category 1 hurricane, with sustained winds between 74-94 mph before making landfall sometime between Tuesday (August 29) night and Wednesday morning.

The National Hurricane Center said that parts of the west coast of Florida, the Florida Panhandle, and southern Georgia could see between three and six inches of rain from Tuesday into Wednesday.

Some areas could see up to ten inches of rain.

By Wednesday and Thursday, Idalia could bring heavy rain to the Carolinas.

"This rainfall may lead to flash and urban flooding and landslides across western Cuba. Scattered flash and urban flooding can also be expected across portions of the west coast of Florida, the Florida Panhandle, and portions of the Southeast U.S. by Tuesday into Thursday," the National Hurricane Center said.

As a result of the looming storm, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in the following 33 counties: Alachua, Bay, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor and Wakulla.