Tropical Storm Idalia
Source: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the Department of Commerce of the United States.
Brian Cohen·
Weather
··5 min read

Hurricane Idalia to Impact Florida: August 2023 Travel Alert

This is forecast to landfall as a major hurricane.

Due to the effects from Hurricane Idalia to impact Florida August 2023 as a potentially major hurricane, you may want to consider delaying your travel — or, at least, keep yourself updated as to the latest information pertaining to the weather — if this region is in your travel plans over the next few days.

Hurricane Idalia to Impact Florida: August 2023 Travel Alert

Maximum sustained winds of Tropical Storm Idalia — which is currently approximately 20 miles southwest of the western tip of Cuba and moving north at a speed of eight miles per hour — are at 70 miles per hour as a strong tropical storm which is just shy of being a hurricane; and after the tropical storm strengthens significantly to a major hurricane due to unusually warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico to fuel it, landfall is expected to occur somewhere west of the town of Steinhatchee sometime in the late morning hours of Wednesday, August 30, 2023.

Tropical Storm Idalia
Source: National Hurricane Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States.

The storm surge could be as high as twelve feet from the Aucilla River to Chassahowitzka in Florida; and rainfall totals of up to twelve inches may occur in isolated areas of Florida.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:

  • Cuban province of Pinar del Rio
  • Middle of Longboat Key northward to Indian Pass in Florida — including Tampa Bay

A Hurricane Watch is in effect in Florida for:

  • Englewood to the Middle of Longboat Key

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:

  • Yucatan Peninsula from Tulum to Rio Lagartos — including Cozumel
  • Isle of Youth Cuba
  • Dry Tortugas Florida
  • Chokoloskee northward to the middle of Longboat Key
  • West of Indian Pass to Mexico Beach

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:

  • Lower Florida Keys west of the west end of the Seven Mile Bridge
  • Sebastian Inlet in Florida northward to South Santee River in South Carolina

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect in Florida for:

  • Englewood northward to Indian Pass — including Tampa Bay

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for:

  • Chokoloskee northward to Englewood — including Charlotte Harbour
  • Mouth of the Saint Mary’s River to South Santee River in South Carolina

Cities that are expected to be affected by Hurricane Idalia include Tampa, Saint Petersburg, Clearwater, Sarasota, Jacksonville, Savannah, Brunswick, and Charleston.

A state of emergency has already been official declared for the state of Florida. The campuses and buildings of schools and colleges have closed and switched to remote classes. People in Florida are being strongly urged to evacuate as soon as possible. To help ease evacuations, tolls along highways in Florida will be suspended starting tomorrow, Tuesday, August 29, 2023 at 4:00 in the morning.

Dangerous rough surf with large waves, local flash flooding, strong rip currents, windy conditions, and rainfall of up to twelve inches are all possible in many parts of Florida; while western Cuba can also expect mud slides. Electrical power outages and even tornados are also likely to occur.

Flight Waivers, Delays, and Cancellations

If you are traveling to Florida over the next few days, expect delays and cancellations of flights. Keep up to date on the latest information pertaining to this tropical weather system which may adversely affect your travel plans. Better yet, postponing or canceling your trip might be a better option — no matter which mode of travel you plan on taking.

If you have a flight scheduled, your flight may be delayed or canceled — and you may be eligible for a waiver of a fee to change your itinerary. If you are driving in any of these areas, watch out for deteriorating weather conditions and traffic problems.

Here are eleven airlines which have issued travel alerts as a result of this tropical weather system:

Final Boarding Call

Expect travel waivers to be issued by additional airlines as Hurricane Idalia closes in on Florida — where residents are growing ever so weary of any tropical system whose name begins with the letter I.

Be sure to contact your airline or transportation provider for the latest information pertaining to your travels — if they are adversely affected — and please: travel safely.

Source: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the Department of Commerce of the United States.

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