...LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE AND HURRICANE CONDITIONS EXPECTED ALONG PORTIONS OF THE GULF COAST OF FLORIDA TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...
Hurricane Idalia Advisory Number 12
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL102023
1100 AM EDT Tue Aug 29 2023
SUMMARY OF 1100 AM EDT...1500 UTC...INFORMATION
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LOCATION...24.6N 84.8W
ABOUT 120 MI...190 KM W OF THE DRY TORTUGAS
ABOUT 275 MI...440 KM SSW OF TAMPA FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...85 MPH...140 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...N OR 5 DEGREES AT 14 MPH...22 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...976 MB...28.82 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
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CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued from Altamaha Sound, Georgia, northward to South Santee River, South Carolina.
A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued from South Santee River northward to Surf City, North Caro-lina.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
* Englewood northward to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* Cuban province of Pinar del Rio
* Middle of Longboat Key northward to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Isle of Youth Cuba
* Dry Tortugas Florida
* Chokoloskee northward to the Middle of Longboat Key
* West of Indian Pass to Mexico Beach
* Sebastian Inlet Florida to South Santee River South Carolina
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
* Chokoloskee northward to Englewood, including Charlotte Harbour
* Mouth of the St. Mary's River to South Santee River South Carolina
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Englewood to the Middle of Longboat Key
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* Lower Florida Keys west of the west end of the Seven Mile Bridge
* South Santee River northward to Surf City North Carolina
A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. Preparations to protect life
and property should be rushed to completion.
A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations. This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Prompt-ly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.
A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
Interests elsewhere along the southeastern U.S. coast should monitor the progress of this system. Additional watches and warnings will likely be required later today.
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
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At 1100 AM EDT (1500 UTC), the center of Hurricane Idalia was located near latitude 24.5 North, lon-gitude 84.8 West. Idalia is moving toward the north near 14 mph (22 km/h). A faster motion toward the north and north-northeast is expected through early Wednesday while Idalia approaches the Gulf coast of Florida. A turn toward the northeast and east-northeast is forecast late Wednesday and Thursday, bringing the center of Idalia near or along the coasts of Georgia and the Carolinas.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 85 mph (140 km/h)
with higher gusts. Rapid intensification is expected before landfall, and Idalia is forecast to be a major hurricane when it reaches the Gulf coast of Florida Wednesday morning.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles (30 km) from the center and tropi-cal-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles (260 km).
The estimated minimum central pressure from NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft data is 976 mb (28.82 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
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STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry ar-eas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...
Aucilla River, FL to Yankeetown, FL...10-15 ft
Yankeetown to Chassahowitzka, FL...7-11 ft
Chassahowitzka, FL to Anclote River, FL...6-9 ft
Ochlockonee River, FL to Aucilla River, FL...6-9 ft
Anclote River, FL to Middle of Longboat Key, FL...4-7 ft
Tampa Bay...4-7 ft
Carrabelle, FL to Ochlockonee River, FL...4-7 ft
Middle of Longboat Key, FL to Englewood, FL...3-5 ft
Englewood, FL to Chokoloskee, FL...2-4 ft
Charlotte Harbor...2-4 ft
Indian Pass, FL to Carrabelle, FL...3-5 ft
Mouth of the St. Mary's River to South Santee, SC...2-4 ft
South Santee, SC to Surf City, NC...1-3 ft
Chokoloskee, FL to East Cape Sable, FL...1-3 ft
Flagler/Volusia County Line, FL to Mouth of St. Mary's River...1-3ft
Indian Pass to Mexico Beach...1 to 3 ft.
Florida Keys...1-2 ft
The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. For information spe-cific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.
Elevated water levels along the southern coast of Pinar del Rio, Cuba will gradually subside today.
WIND: Hurricane and tropical storm conditions are expected to continue within the warning areas in western Cuba for the next few hours.
Hurricane conditions are expected within the hurricane warning area in Florida by tonight or early Wednesday, with tropical storm conditions beginning today.
Tropical storm conditions are likely beginning in the Dry Tortugas and will begin 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, Georgia, and South Carolina. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area in South and North Carolina Wednesday night and Thursday.
RAINFALL: Idalia is expected to produce the following rainfall amounts:
Western Cuba: 4 to 7 inches, with isolated higher totals of 10 inches.
Portions of the west coast of Florida, the Florida Panhandle, southeast Georgia and the eastern Caro-linas: 4 to 8 inches from Tuesday into Thursday. Isolated higher totals of 12 inches possible, primarily near landfall in northern Florida.
This rainfall may lead to flash and urban flooding, and landslides across western Cuba.
Areas of flash and urban flooding, some of which may be locally significant, are expected across por-tions of the west coast of Florida, the Florida Panhandle, and southern Georgia Tuesday into Wednesday, spreading into portions of the eastern Carolinas Wednesday into Thursday.
SURF: Swells generated by Idalia are affecting portions of the southern coast of Cuba and eastern Yu-catan. These swells will spread northward along the eastern United States Gulf Coast during the next day or two. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.
TORNADOES: A few tornadoes will be possible along the west central Florida coast through tonight. The tornado threat will also spread northward into the Florida Big Bend tonight, and toward south-east Georgia and the coastal Carolinas Wednesday.
Forecaster Ber
