Tropical Depression Ten has strengthened to Tropical Storm Idalia with maximum sustained wind speeds of 40 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. It could become a hurricane by Tuesday afternoon and make landfall in Florida as early as Wednesday.
The storm is currently located 80 miles east-southeast of Cozumel, Mexico, and is moving slowly at 2 mph to the east.
Widespread rainfall totals of 4-6 inches are expected from Tallahassee to the Outer Banks, with isolated totals of up to 10 inches possible. The governor said the storm is expected to become a hurricane late Tuesday afternoon and landfall is expected Wednesday along the Big Bend region, noting the storm could become a Category 2 hurricane.
DeSantis issued an executive order Saturday declaring a state of emergency for 33 counties ahead of the potential inclement weather. "The Governor and the Florida Division of Emergency Management are taking timely precautions to ensure Florida's communities, infrastructure and resources are prepared, including those communities that are still recovering following Hurricane Ian," reads a news release announcing the executive order.
Either way, wind shear may decrease for a time early next week across the far northern Caribbean and eastern Gulf of Mexico, allowing any system that forms to hold together.Meanwhile, out in the central Atlantic, what was Tropical Storm Franklin strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 miles per hour, according to a Sunday update from the National Hurricane Center. This was confirmed via aircraft reconnaissance by the NOAA and Air Force Hurricane Hunters.
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