Two issues to watch for. Tornadoes can be spun out of a hurricane, which can cause massive damage. And, with the warmer temperatures in the Gulf, a more massive amount of water can be picked up and deposited on land in the form of rainfall.
Here’s the latest from the Washington Post:
“Here’s the latest on the storm. Hurricane Idalia’s outer rain bands began to lash Florida’s southwest coast on Tuesday afternoon, prompting a tornado warning for the Naples area as the storm continued to build strength over the Gulf of Mexico’s abnormally warm waters.
“Idalia appeared headed for a vulnerable but sparsely populated portion of Florida coastline known as the Big Bend. But its impacts could be widespread on the state’s western shore, and officials in Georgia and the Carolinas also issued emergency declarations because of heavy rain and flooding concerns.
“‘This storm is very strong, and is expected to strengthen,’ said Deanne Criswell, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in a briefing at the White House. She urged Florida residents to listen to
“Idalia (pronounced ee-DAL-ya) was forecast to come ashore as a Category 3 storm on Wednesday morning. Some of the communities that expected to feel its impact remained scarred by Hurricane Ian’s landfall 11 months ago.”
