Hurricane Idalia live track today in Tampa, Florida: current track and affected states

The hurricane Idalia causes “catastrophic storms and damaging wind gusts” up to 195 km/h, with stronger wind gusts. Idalia, lifted as a powerful Category 3 hurricane, made landfall on Florida’s northwestern coast on Wednesday and was downgraded to a Category 2 hurricane.

At least two people died as indirect victims of the hurricane.

“The extremely dangerous Hurricane Idalia has made landfall in the Bing Bend region of Florida,” the United States National Hurricane Center (HNC) announced on social network X. Thus, it began its potentially damaging path toward Florida’s east coast.

ABC News station reported that in Pasco County, north of Tampa, a man was killed when the vehicle he was traveling in crashed into a tree and lost control, apparently due to adverse weather conditions.

Other media reports indicate that in Alachua County, a 59-year-old driver died after falling into a ditch while driving in heavy rain.

Meteorologists and authorities warned residents of the areas through which Idalia will pass not to let their guard down as it will still be a dangerous hurricane, especially due to the storm surge that has already caused flooding in coastal areas and will intensify.

Sea levels will rise even higher this afternoon as the storm surge coincides with the high tide, as Tampa Mayor Jane Castor explained to CNN.

“The floods we are experiencing now are nothing compared to what we will see in a few hours,” he said.

Warning for Georgia and South Carolina

After making landfall, the hurricane has weakened to a Category 2 cyclone, has winds of 110 miles per hour (175 km/h) and is currently moving in a northeasterly direction at 18 miles per hour (30 km/h). km/h). expect it to pass through South Georgia and arrive in South Carolina this afternoon or evening.

All three states have issued emergency declarations to facilitate disaster relief.

No casualties have been reported so far from the hurricane, which had winds of 205 km/h, i.e. Category 3, when it reached Keaton Beach around 07:45 (11:45 GMT).

About 244,000 users are without electricity in Florida, the vast majority in the Idalia impact area, according to energy company data collected by the website PowerOutage.us.

According to the private weather company Accuweather, power outages are expected to increase during the day, not only in Florida, but also in Georgia and South Carolina.

Web cameras in the Big Bend area showed a rough and swollen sea shortly after sunrise today.

The beachfronts of many coastal towns were flooded by the sea, as evidenced by the cameras dotted around the coast that allow you to see the hurricanes live and risk-free.

Before Idalia made landfall near Keaton Beach, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said the emergency would last “a few days” and asked Florida residents “not to play” with their lives.

“Shut yourself off until the hurricane leaves you behind. Don’t play with this wind, things will be flying everywhere,” he stressed.

The area where Idalia landed, in Taylor County, right at the end of the region called “Big Bend,” is sparsely populated (about 22,000 residents), making it a better “setting” compared to Tampa’s populated bay. south, which also belonged to the area of ​​possible impact.

“We had some damage from the wind, fallen trees, branches and things like that. But what worries us most is that (…) we’re going to have floods, major floods along our coast,” Mayor Castor told CNN.

hurricane force

According to the winds recorded by the hurricane chaser aircraft, Idalia was a hurricane with Category 3 winds when it made landfall. About two hours before landing, the wind was 130 miles per hour (225 km/h), i.e. Category 4.

Authorities have warned that the greatest danger is rising seas, which could rise more than 15 feet above normal levels in some parts of Florida’s northeastern coast.

There are also minor advisories for areas in North Carolina and Virginia. (JO)

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