Eye of Idalia moving just inland from Florida Big Bend coast

30 Aug 2023 / East Coast, United States

At 800 AM EDT (1200 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Idalia was located by Tallahassee radar near latitude 29.9 North, longitude 83.5 West [and] 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 move into southern Georgia later today.

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.

Maximum sustained winds are estimated near 120 mph (195 km/h) with higher gusts. Idalia is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Although Idalia will weaken further now that the center is inland, 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 is forecast to be a tropical storm while moving near the coasts of northeastern South Carolina and North Carolina tonight and on Thursday.

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)…

…Water levels along the coast of the Florida Big Bend continue to rise rapidly. A NOAA National Ocean Service tide gauge at Cedar Key, Florida, recently reported a water level of 6.2 feet above mean higher high water, which is an approximation of inundation in that area…

…Hurricane conditions are occurring within the hurricane warning area in Florida and will spread into southern Georgia later today. Tropical storm conditions will continue through today within the tropical storm warning area along the Florida Gulf and west coasts.

Hurricane conditions are expected in the Hurricane Warning area along the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina later today and tonight, and possible within the Hurricane Watch area.

Tropical storm conditions are beginning within the tropical storm warning area along the northeastern coast of Florida and will spread into Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina through the day and into Thursday…

(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the United States, contact GAC North America at [email protected])

Source: Extracts from National Hurricane Center, Miami FL, Hurricane Idalia Advisory No.15A issued at 00am EDT on 30 August 2023

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