The Miami Herald reports:
As a tropical system continues to march toward Florida, with a high chance of becoming a depression or something stronger in the coming days, a state of emergency was declared Saturday for most counties on the Gulf Coast. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order that declared the state of emergency for 33 counties, including Manatee, Hillsborough (where Tampa is) and Leon (where Tallahassee is).
“I signed an Executive Order issuing a state of emergency out of an abundance of caution to ensure that the Florida Division of Emergency Management can begin staging resources and Floridians have plenty of time to prepare their families for a storm next week,” DeSantis said in a statement. “I encourage Floridians to have a plan in place and ensure that their hurricane supply kit is stocked.”
The Weather Channel reports:
Soon-to-be Tropical Storm Idalia may get a boost from its track over the Gulf of Mexico loop current, a northward flowing ribbon of deeper, warmer warmer from the western Caribbean Sea into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for Mexico’s northeast Yucatan Peninsula, including both Cancún and Cozumel.
Recent computer models suggest wind shear during its northward journey toward Florida may be lower than previously forecast. Wind shear is usually a hostile factor that can weaken or slow a storm’s intensification.
Therefore, the National Hurricane Center is forecasting Idalia to become a Category 1 hurricane, possibly stronger, before its Florida landfall. The National Hurricane Center also noted in its Sunday morning discussion that “There’s a notable risk of rapid intensification while the system moves across the record warm eastern and northeastern Gulf of Mexico.”
Tropical Depression 10 is expected to strengthen into Hurricane Idalia in the next couple days as it approaches the Florida coast. Here’s what to expect… pic.twitter.com/9ayNUhQOoU
— Brandon Orr (@BrandonOrrWPLG) August 27, 2023
#TD10 is just about, if not already, TS Idalia. Storm will meander near Yucatan today, then a trough will get it moving north/northeast on Monday. Unfortunately, it’s looking like Florida will have another hurricane hit, and perhaps a major one. Track adjustments likely. pic.twitter.com/PTsP0u4ClQ
— Paul Dellegatto⚡️FOX (@PaulFox13) August 27, 2023
Future Idalia will likely wait till it begins to lift north over the Gulf to really start ramping up. A strengthening hurricane is looking more and more likely over the eastern Gulf Mon/Tue. Residents on Florida’s West Coast should be preparing for a formidable hurricane. pic.twitter.com/7YLQS35Wf8
— Zack Fradella (@ZackFradellaWx) August 27, 2023
FUTURE TRACKER: Here’s a look at our in house(IBM GRAF 4km) model showing the forecast development of Idalia over the next couple days. Certainly looks pretty wound up in the NE Gulf by Tuesday night. pic.twitter.com/kpx06NHuwg
— Joey Sovine Live 5 (@JoeySovine) August 27, 2023
The 12Z Hurricane models now all have a major hurricane at landfall around midnight Tuesday night. The models are in the 930-945 MB range. #flwx #Idalia pic.twitter.com/ekpIwFt4n1
— Jeff Piotrowski (@Jeff_Piotrowski) August 26, 2023
