The National
Hurricane Center has just upgraded the storm classification.
It says a life-threatening storm
surge and hurricane conditions are expected along portions of the Gulf Coast of
Florida tonight and Wednesday.
A Category 2 hurricane travels with winds of up to 110 mph (177 km/h) that can cause extensive damage.
Are more hurricanes making landfall?
Franz Strasser
Reporting from Washington DC
Taking a look at
all hurricanes making landfall in the US since 1911, you can see that the
number has gone from 12 in the 1970s to 19 in the 2000s and 2010s.
But it has not been
dramatically higher recently than the 20th century average of roughly 17 per
decade.
What is happening more, experts say,
is that warming waters are leading to more hurricanes over the Atlantic
strengthening to major hurricanes, those Category 3 and higher. And not all of
them have to make landfall to have an impact on US residents living in coastal
areas.
.Copyright: .
Hurricane Idalia by numbers
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
Most of
Florida's 21 million residents, along with tens of
millions of others in Georgia and South Carolina, are under warnings
of some kind in anticipation of Hurricane Idalia.
These are pretty
sizeable figures to comprehend. But, while we wait for the storm to hit, the
majority of information we have is based on just that: numbers.
And while some are
certain and others approximate, it is important to get our heads round those
key figures. Let's break them down:
An executive order was
earlier expanded to a total of 49 counties in Florida,
Governor Ron DeSantis announced earlier
Storm surge inundations
along Florida's coast are expected to be between 10 to 15ft (3.05
to 4.57m)
Wind speeds are expected to
reach 125mph (200km/h), with up to 12in
(30cm) of rain
DeSantis announced that Idalia would hit the
coast as a Category 3 storm - with sustained winds of at
least 111 mph (179 kph)
Florida has mobilised more than 5,500
National Guardsmen and up to 40,000 linemen are
on standby to tackle power cuts
We're there as long as it takes - Biden
EPACopyright: EPA
At the White House,
President Biden has said he assured Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in a phone
call last night that his state will get whatever help it needs.
“We’re worried
about the ocean surge,” Biden told reporters ahead of a bilateral meeting with
Costa Rica's president.
He said that his
team was monitoring Idalia's path "hour to hour".
“We’re there as
long as it takes, and we’ll make sure they have everything they need,” he added.
It marks a rare conversation between
Biden, a Democrat, and DeSantis, a Republican who is in the 2024 race for
president.
For most in Tampa, higher ground is just a few minutes away
Mike Wendling
Reporting from Tampa, Florida
Hillsborough CountyCopyright: Hillsborough County
Tampa's evacuation zones - the area in red is most at risk from flooding and storm surgeImage caption: Tampa's evacuation zones - the area in red is most at risk from flooding and storm surge
The word “evacuation”
brings to mind long lines of traffic and people struggling to move hundreds of
miles inland.
But that’s
not the situation here in Tampa, where large parts of this metro area of three million people are out of reach of Idalia’s
potentially deadly storm surge.
The city is divided
into five coloured zones, but only Zone A, shown in red above and comprising low-lying
areas closest to the water, is under a mandatory evacuation order. That said, others are being encouraged to seek shelter, particularly if they live in mobile homes.
“You don’t always
know what’s safe or not, because Tampa’s so big,” said Chanel Jay, who was hunkering
down in a shelter about a 10 minute drive away from her home.
Right now
the worst winds and storm surges are forecast to hit sparsely populated areas
further to the north.
But things can change quickly and Chanel, who is facing her
second hurricane since moving from Pennsylvania, says she isn’t taking any
chances.
“Florida weather
has a mind of its own,” she says.
State of emergency declared in South Carolina
The Governor of South Carolina, Henry McMaster, has declared a state of emergency.
He says the decision was made out of "an abundance of caution" to make sure they were ready for any flooding, and could respond quickly if the forecast worsens.
More than 500 US flights cancelled today
More than 500 flights within the US have been cancelled today, according to the FlightAware flight tracking database.
Of those, 379 flights arriving or departing from Tampa Airport account for the vast majority of the cancellations.
The Tampa Bay area is expected to suffer significant impacts once Hurricane Idalia makes landfall in Florida, and the airport has already suspended its commercial operations.
Nearly 2,000 US flights have also been delayed since this morning.
In pictures: Preparations before the storm
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
Workers fortify power lines in ClearwaterImage caption: Workers fortify power lines in Clearwater
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
A man places plywood barricades ahead of the hurricane's arrival in Cedar KeyImage caption: A man places plywood barricades ahead of the hurricane's arrival in Cedar Key
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
Home Depot employee Sharon Walsh fills a cart with cases of water while moving them to the front door in OcalaImage caption: Home Depot employee Sharon Walsh fills a cart with cases of water while moving them to the front door in Ocala
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
Men install barriers outside the Marriott hotel ahead of Hurricane Idalia in Clearwater BeachImage caption: Men install barriers outside the Marriott hotel ahead of Hurricane Idalia in Clearwater Beach
Taking shelter as rain starts to fall
Mike Wendling
Reporting from Tampa, Florida
BBCCopyright: BBC
We’re seeing
the first signs of the storm here on Florida’s west coast. In the last few
minutes rain has just started to fall on a shelter for disabled and special
needs residents of Tampa.
Staying dry
inside is Susan Bush, a lifelong local who lives in a mobile home and is recovering
from a knee replacement. Susan is 75 and has lost track of exactly how many storms she’s
been through.
“Normally I
wouldn’t leave home, but my neighbour convinced me this one could be serious,”
she says.
Last year
when Hurricane Ian tore through Florida she found shelter at a friend’s house.
There was a deluge of debris and they lost power for four days, she says, but Susan’s
hoping Idalia won’t be that bad.
“With luck
I’ll only be here for a day or so,” she says.
Post update
.Copyright: .
What fuels destructive hurricanes?
Richard Gray
Editor, BBC Future
This year's hurricane season will be an epic tug of war between competing climate patterns in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
The tropical Pacific Ocean has entered an El Niño phase, a warming of the surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific. This drives atmospheric conditions that increase the wind shear (the difference between the speed and direction of winds at various altitudes) above the Atlantic. High wind shear can prevent hurricanes from forming, causing them to topple over and collapse.
But hurricanes also rely upon the heat given off from the surface of the ocean for energy. This year, sea surface temperatures globally have been breaking records, and temperatures have been particularly high in the North Atlantic. This has led to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicting that the 2023 hurricane season will be more active than normal in terms of the number of storms and their intensity.
Scientists at the NOAA also recently identified another factor that could play a role – El Niño's little brother, known as Atlantic Niño. This cycle, which involves the warming of the tropical water off the west coast of Africa, fuels some of the most powerful hurricanes, which begin as storms in the Cape Verde archipelago. This year's Atlantic Niño appears to be in a "neutral phase" at the moment, so it is not likely to have much effect on this hurricane season unless it changes phase.
Video caption: Ron DeSantis: Run from the water, hide from the windRon DeSantis: Run from the water, hide from the wind
If you're just joining us, or are in need of a recap, here are the key points covered during the latest update on Hurricane Idalia.
The storm will hit inland counties, particularly those in northern Florida, and the executive order has expanded to a total of 49 counties
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis urged people to run away from the water and hide from the wind, as storm surges could be as high as 15 feet (4.5 metres) in some coastal areas
Those in the path of the storm should expect to lose power, but restoring power lines is one of the main priorities
More than one million gallons of fuel is on standby and 5,500 members of Florida's National Guard have been mobilised
Florida's chief financial officer urged residents to be on the lookout for "predators" who might try to scam them
Florida requests a major disaster declaration
DeSantis takes the podium again. He tells the conference that he is in the process of requesting a major disaster declaration from the federal government.
"It's our belief that that will be approved based on our conversations with FEMA."
DeSantis says this should help with the repairs and clean-up efforts following the storm.
The press conference is now finished.
We expect to hear further updates throughout the day and evening as the hurricane approaches Florida's coast.
'Watch out for scammers'
Jimmy Patronis, Florida's chief financial officer, urges residents to be on the lookout for "predators who will pre-stage outside these affected areas" and offer services before and after the storm.
Such services may include tree removal and power restoration, he says.
But their services will not be eligible for any restitution or reimbursement claims from insurance companies, so do not sign anything, he warns.
"If you feel comfortable giving a total stranger who approaches you on your doorstep money, you may as well be setting it on fire," Patronis says.
"Use some common sense. If it's too good to be true, it usually is."
Fuel, search and rescue and internet assets readied
DeSantis says his state is prepared for the hurricane to make landfall.
More than one million gallons of fuel have been placed on standby.
In addition, hundreds of urban search and rescue personnel, as well as 5,500 members of Florida's National Guard, have been mobilised.
The governor adds that more than 250 Starlink devices have been deployed across the state in case of service disruption, with more than 500 more ready to be used.
Starlink is a satellite internet service run by Elon Musk's SpaceX.
Run away from the water, hide from the wind - DeSantis
DeSantis goes on to say that some areas - such as Cedar Keys - could see "really, really significant storm surges".
"You're not going to win that battle", he says, as he urges people to avoid choosing to stay behind.
"You run away from the water and then you hide from the wind."
Storm surges could be as high as 15 feet (4.5m) in some coastal areas.
If you are in the path of the storm, you will lose power - DeSantis
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis continues by saying the executive order has been expanded to a total of 49 counties.
He says a "huge number of counties will feel the impacts of this and we to make sure they are able to do what they need to do".
He explains that those who are in the path of the storm should expect to lose power.
He explains to Floridians that even if you are not directly in the path of the storm, you're likely to feel the knock on effects.
DeSantis: Idalia shifting westward
NoneCopyright: None
Florida's governor is up at the podium now with an update on the projected trajectory and impacts of Idalia.
"This storm is going to impact inland counties, particularly in northern Florida," says Ron DeSantis.
He says the exact path of the hurricane could still shift, with the most recent models suggesting it is shifting westward.
Southern parts of the state are already starting to feel impacts from the storm, he adds.
WATCH - Florida Governor gives update
We are about to hear a storm update from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
You can watch a livestream by clicking the Play button at the top of this page.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) has said it stands ready to support Americans in the path of Hurricane Idalia, but residents must "be vigilant and heed the warnings of local officials".
"I know that the people of Florida are no stranger to storms and I encourage all Floridians to take this storm seriously," Fema administrator Deanne Criswell said at the White House's daily press briefing on Tuesday.
She said Idalia's expected storm surge poses the highest risk for loss of life, particularly in the shallow, low-lying parts of Florida's western or gulf coast.
Criswell said she had briefed President Joe Biden on the hurricane's projected trajectory and impacts, as well as the governors of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.
The agency has already pre-deployed hundreds of its personnel, including urban search and rescue teams, and resources to the region.
Criswell also noted it has a warehouse fully stocked with food, blankets, medical supplies and other commodities that can be sent to Florida once the storm passes, in addition to 50,000 hot meals on standby from the Red Cross.
On Monday, the White House approved an emergency declaration for Florida, making federal disaster assistance available to the state.
Live Reporting
Edited by Brandon Livesay and Jemma Crew
All times stated are UK
Get involved
BreakingHurricane Idalia upgraded to Category 2
Idalia is now a Category 2 hurricane.
The National Hurricane Center has just upgraded the storm classification.
It says a life-threatening storm surge and hurricane conditions are expected along portions of the Gulf Coast of Florida tonight and Wednesday.
A Category 2 hurricane travels with winds of up to 110 mph (177 km/h) that can cause extensive damage.
Are more hurricanes making landfall?
Franz Strasser
Reporting from Washington DC
Taking a look at all hurricanes making landfall in the US since 1911, you can see that the number has gone from 12 in the 1970s to 19 in the 2000s and 2010s.
But it has not been dramatically higher recently than the 20th century average of roughly 17 per decade.
What is happening more, experts say, is that warming waters are leading to more hurricanes over the Atlantic strengthening to major hurricanes, those Category 3 and higher. And not all of them have to make landfall to have an impact on US residents living in coastal areas.
Hurricane Idalia by numbers
Most of Florida's 21 million residents, along with tens of millions of others in Georgia and South Carolina, are under warnings of some kind in anticipation of Hurricane Idalia.
These are pretty sizeable figures to comprehend. But, while we wait for the storm to hit, the majority of information we have is based on just that: numbers.
And while some are certain and others approximate, it is important to get our heads round those key figures. Let's break them down:
We're there as long as it takes - Biden
At the White House, President Biden has said he assured Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in a phone call last night that his state will get whatever help it needs.
“We’re worried about the ocean surge,” Biden told reporters ahead of a bilateral meeting with Costa Rica's president.
He said that his team was monitoring Idalia's path "hour to hour".
“We’re there as long as it takes, and we’ll make sure they have everything they need,” he added.
It marks a rare conversation between Biden, a Democrat, and DeSantis, a Republican who is in the 2024 race for president.
For most in Tampa, higher ground is just a few minutes away
Mike Wendling
Reporting from Tampa, Florida
The word “evacuation” brings to mind long lines of traffic and people struggling to move hundreds of miles inland.
But that’s not the situation here in Tampa, where large parts of this metro area of three million people are out of reach of Idalia’s potentially deadly storm surge.
The city is divided into five coloured zones, but only Zone A, shown in red above and comprising low-lying areas closest to the water, is under a mandatory evacuation order. That said, others are being encouraged to seek shelter, particularly if they live in mobile homes.
“You don’t always know what’s safe or not, because Tampa’s so big,” said Chanel Jay, who was hunkering down in a shelter about a 10 minute drive away from her home.
Right now the worst winds and storm surges are forecast to hit sparsely populated areas further to the north.
But things can change quickly and Chanel, who is facing her second hurricane since moving from Pennsylvania, says she isn’t taking any chances.
“Florida weather has a mind of its own,” she says.
State of emergency declared in South Carolina
The Governor of South Carolina, Henry McMaster, has declared a state of emergency.
He says the decision was made out of "an abundance of caution" to make sure they were ready for any flooding, and could respond quickly if the forecast worsens.
More than 500 US flights cancelled today
More than 500 flights within the US have been cancelled today, according to the FlightAware flight tracking database.
Of those, 379 flights arriving or departing from Tampa Airport account for the vast majority of the cancellations.
The Tampa Bay area is expected to suffer significant impacts once Hurricane Idalia makes landfall in Florida, and the airport has already suspended its commercial operations.
Nearly 2,000 US flights have also been delayed since this morning.
In pictures: Preparations before the storm
Taking shelter as rain starts to fall
Mike Wendling
Reporting from Tampa, Florida
We’re seeing the first signs of the storm here on Florida’s west coast. In the last few minutes rain has just started to fall on a shelter for disabled and special needs residents of Tampa.
Staying dry inside is Susan Bush, a lifelong local who lives in a mobile home and is recovering from a knee replacement. Susan is 75 and has lost track of exactly how many storms she’s been through.
“Normally I wouldn’t leave home, but my neighbour convinced me this one could be serious,” she says.
Last year when Hurricane Ian tore through Florida she found shelter at a friend’s house. There was a deluge of debris and they lost power for four days, she says, but Susan’s hoping Idalia won’t be that bad.
“With luck I’ll only be here for a day or so,” she says.
Post update
What fuels destructive hurricanes?
Richard Gray
Editor, BBC Future
This year's hurricane season will be an epic tug of war between competing climate patterns in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
The tropical Pacific Ocean has entered an El Niño phase, a warming of the surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific. This drives atmospheric conditions that increase the wind shear (the difference between the speed and direction of winds at various altitudes) above the Atlantic. High wind shear can prevent hurricanes from forming, causing them to topple over and collapse.
But hurricanes also rely upon the heat given off from the surface of the ocean for energy. This year, sea surface temperatures globally have been breaking records, and temperatures have been particularly high in the North Atlantic. This has led to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicting that the 2023 hurricane season will be more active than normal in terms of the number of storms and their intensity.
Scientists at the NOAA also recently identified another factor that could play a role – El Niño's little brother, known as Atlantic Niño. This cycle, which involves the warming of the tropical water off the west coast of Africa, fuels some of the most powerful hurricanes, which begin as storms in the Cape Verde archipelago. This year's Atlantic Niño appears to be in a "neutral phase" at the moment, so it is not likely to have much effect on this hurricane season unless it changes phase.
Find out more in this article by my colleague India Bourke.
What's the latest?
Video content
If you're just joining us, or are in need of a recap, here are the key points covered during the latest update on Hurricane Idalia.
Florida requests a major disaster declaration
DeSantis takes the podium again. He tells the conference that he is in the process of requesting a major disaster declaration from the federal government.
"It's our belief that that will be approved based on our conversations with FEMA."
DeSantis says this should help with the repairs and clean-up efforts following the storm.
The press conference is now finished.
We expect to hear further updates throughout the day and evening as the hurricane approaches Florida's coast.
'Watch out for scammers'
Jimmy Patronis, Florida's chief financial officer, urges residents to be on the lookout for "predators who will pre-stage outside these affected areas" and offer services before and after the storm.
Such services may include tree removal and power restoration, he says.
But their services will not be eligible for any restitution or reimbursement claims from insurance companies, so do not sign anything, he warns.
"If you feel comfortable giving a total stranger who approaches you on your doorstep money, you may as well be setting it on fire," Patronis says.
"Use some common sense. If it's too good to be true, it usually is."
Fuel, search and rescue and internet assets readied
DeSantis says his state is prepared for the hurricane to make landfall.
More than one million gallons of fuel have been placed on standby.
In addition, hundreds of urban search and rescue personnel, as well as 5,500 members of Florida's National Guard, have been mobilised.
The governor adds that more than 250 Starlink devices have been deployed across the state in case of service disruption, with more than 500 more ready to be used.
Starlink is a satellite internet service run by Elon Musk's SpaceX.
Run away from the water, hide from the wind - DeSantis
DeSantis goes on to say that some areas - such as Cedar Keys - could see "really, really significant storm surges".
"You're not going to win that battle", he says, as he urges people to avoid choosing to stay behind.
"You run away from the water and then you hide from the wind."
Storm surges could be as high as 15 feet (4.5m) in some coastal areas.
If you are in the path of the storm, you will lose power - DeSantis
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis continues by saying the executive order has been expanded to a total of 49 counties.
He says a "huge number of counties will feel the impacts of this and we to make sure they are able to do what they need to do".
He explains that those who are in the path of the storm should expect to lose power.
He explains to Floridians that even if you are not directly in the path of the storm, you're likely to feel the knock on effects.
DeSantis: Idalia shifting westward
Florida's governor is up at the podium now with an update on the projected trajectory and impacts of Idalia.
"This storm is going to impact inland counties, particularly in northern Florida," says Ron DeSantis.
He says the exact path of the hurricane could still shift, with the most recent models suggesting it is shifting westward.
Southern parts of the state are already starting to feel impacts from the storm, he adds.
WATCH - Florida Governor gives update
We are about to hear a storm update from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
You can watch a livestream by clicking the Play button at the top of this page.
'Take this storm seriously'
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) has said it stands ready to support Americans in the path of Hurricane Idalia, but residents must "be vigilant and heed the warnings of local officials".
"I know that the people of Florida are no stranger to storms and I encourage all Floridians to take this storm seriously," Fema administrator Deanne Criswell said at the White House's daily press briefing on Tuesday.
She said Idalia's expected storm surge poses the highest risk for loss of life, particularly in the shallow, low-lying parts of Florida's western or gulf coast.
Criswell said she had briefed President Joe Biden on the hurricane's projected trajectory and impacts, as well as the governors of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.
The agency has already pre-deployed hundreds of its personnel, including urban search and rescue teams, and resources to the region.
Criswell also noted it has a warehouse fully stocked with food, blankets, medical supplies and other commodities that can be sent to Florida once the storm passes, in addition to 50,000 hot meals on standby from the Red Cross.
On Monday, the White House approved an emergency declaration for Florida, making federal disaster assistance available to the state.