Hurricane Idalia Barrels North as Florida Girds for Disaster

Hurricane Idalia is gathering force in advance of a landfall on Florida’s west coast, where it could drive a deadly wall of water into the shoreline, snap trees and cause widespread power outages.

Idalia’s winds topped 85 miles (137 kilometers) per hour Tuesday and are forecast to reach 125 mph, or Category 3 strength, when it comes ashore somewhere in western Florida. Up to 15 feet (4.6 meters) of sea water could be pushed onshore north of Tampa and 7 feet could slosh across Tampa Bay, the US National Hurricane Center said in an 11 a.m. New York time advisory.

The storm’s current track takes it north of heavily populated areas near Tampa and Clearwater, although changes to its path are possible. Landfall will likely be in Appalachee Bay south of Tallahassee Wednesday morning.

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