Idalia now a hurricane, expected to intensify

29 Aug 2023 / Cuba & United States Gulf Coast

At 400am CDT (0900 UTC), Hurricane Idalia was located by Cuban radar near latitude 23.1 North, longitude 85.0 West [and] Idalia is moving toward the north near 14 mph (22 km/h).

A northward motion is expected today, followed by a faster north-northeast motion later today and Wednesday. On the forecast track, the center of Idalia is forecast to move over the eastern Gulf of Mexico today, reach the Gulf coast of Florida within the Hurricane Warning area on Wednesday, and move close to the Carolina coastline on Thursday.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher gusts. Rapid intensification is likely through landfall, and Idalia is forecast to become an extremely dangerous major hurricane before landfall on Wednesday.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles (30 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles (260 km)…

…Hurricane and tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning areas in western Cuba through this morning.

Hurricane conditions are expected within the hurricane warning area in Florida by late today or Wednesday, with tropical storm conditions beginning today.

Tropical storm conditions are expected in the Dry Tortugas soon and within the tropical storm warning area along the Florida Gulf coast and the Florida west coast later today.

Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin on Wednesday in the warning area along the east coast of Florida and South Carolina Tropical storm conditions are possible along the southeast U.S. coast within the southern portions of the watch area by early Wednesday.

…Swells generated by Idalia are affecting portions of the southern coast of Cuba and eastern Yucatan. These swells will spread northward along the eastern United States Gulf Coast during the next day or two...

(For information about operations in the Amer4icas, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at [email protected])

Source: Extracts from National Hurricane Center, Miami FL, Hurricane Idalia Advisory No.11 issued at 400am CDT on 29 August 2023

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.