Greetings to my late-night/early morning readers! In what is a long tradition of disaster check-in diaries on Kos this is a post to find updates, share info, check in if you are in the affected area/s or inquire about fellow Kossacks who may be in harm’s way.
Midnight Update from NHC:
000
WTNT65 KNHC 300357
TCUAT5
Hurricane Idalia Tropical Cyclone Update
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL102023
1200 AM EDT Wed Aug 30 2023
...CATASTROPHIC STORM SURGE AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS EXPECTED IN THE
FLORIDA BIG BEND REGION THIS MORNING WHEN IDALIA MOVES INLAND...
...12 AM POSITION UPDATE...
NOAA buoy 42036 recently reported sustained winds of 49 mph (79
km/h) and a gust to 60 mph (97 km/h) in the northern rainbands of
Idalia
SUMMARY OF 1200 AM EDT...0400 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...27.9N 84.6W
ABOUT 120 MI...195 KM SW OF CEDAR KEY FLORIDA
ABOUT 175 MI...280 KM S OF TALLAHASSEE FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...110 MPH...175 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...N OR 360 DEGREES AT 17 MPH...27 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...958 MB...28.29 INCHES
$$
Forecaster D. Zelinsky
The track has shifted a bit from earlier when tampaedski posted his check-in and it is looking to hit FL Big Bend Region very hard with both Cat 4 winds and storm surge. I saw an update on MSNBC during the 11th Hour and it is looking like people have heeded the evacuation warnings pretty well. The reporter was in Perry and pointing out the boarded up restaurants and bars noting that it was pretty much a “ghost town”. I hope the same is true all along that coastal area.
Here are some stats from the 11pm update:
STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the
tide will cause normally dry areas 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...
Wakulla/Jefferson County line, FL to Yankeetown, FL...12-16 ft
Ochlockonee River, FL to Wakulla/Jefferson County line, FL...8-12 ft
Yankeetown to Chassahowitzka, FL...7-11 ft
Chassahowitzka, FL to Anclote River, FL...6-9 ft
Carrabelle, FL to Ochlockonee River, FL...5-8 ft
Anclote River, FL to Middle of Longboat Key, FL...4-6 ft
Tampa Bay...4-6 ft
Middle of Longboat Key, FL to Englewood, FL...3-5 ft
Indian Pass, FL to Carrabelle, FL...3-5 ft
Englewood, FL to Bonita Beach, FL...2-4 ft
Charlotte Harbor...2-4 ft
Mouth of the St. Mary's River to South Santee, SC...2-4 ft
Beaufort Inlet to Drum Inlet, NC...2-4 ft
Pamlico and Neuse Rivers...2-4 ft
South of Bonita Beach to Chokoloskee, FL...1-3 ft
South Santee, SC to Beaufort Inlet, NC...1-3 ft
Drum Inlet to Duck, 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...1-3
ft
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 specific to your area, please see
products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast
office.
WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected within the hurricane
warning area in Florida early Wednesday morning, with tropical
storm conditions beginning within the next few hours.
Tropical storm conditions will begin within the tropical storm
warning area along the Florida Gulf coast and the Florida west coast
soon.
Hurricane conditions are possible within the hurricane watch area
along the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina Wednesday and
Wednesday night.
Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin on Wednesday in the
warning area along the east coast of Florida, Georgia, and South
Carolina, and spread into North Carolina Wednesday night and
Thursday. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch
area in North Carolina by Thursday.
RAINFALL: Idalia is expected to produce a swath of 4 to 8 inches of
rainfall with isolated maxima up to 12 inches from the Florida Big
Bend through central Georgia and South Carolina, and through eastern
North Carolina into Thursday. These rainfall amounts will lead to
areas of flash, urban, and moderate river flooding, with locally
considerable impacts.
SURF: Swells generated by Idalia are affecting the southwestern
coast of Florida and will spread northward and westward to the
north-central Gulf coast through Wednesday. 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 are possible tonight from the coast of
west-central Florida northward into the Florida Big Bend region.
The tornado risk will shift into southeast Georgia and the coastal
Carolinas on Wednesday.
NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
Next intermediate advisory at 200 AM EDT.
Next complete advisory at 500 AM EDT.
$$
Forecaster Pasch
Links for other info and previous diaries (especially helpful if you are looking to see who has checked in previously etc.)
National Hurricane Center: www.nhc.noaa.gov
Tornado threats: www.spc.noaa.gov/...
tampaedski’s check-in post: Here we go again FL folks - Another "I" Storm: Check In Thread
AKAlib’s Hurricane Idalia has potential for major devastation in FL
Livestream coverage from Tallahassee station: www.wctv.tv/...