Tropical Storm Idalia Heads to Florida, Could Become Category 1 Hurricane

by Rich Thomaselli
Last updated: 11:55 AM ET, Sun August 27, 2023

Hurricane season is now in full effect. Less than a year after Hurricane Ian devastated southwest Florida,  Tropical Storm Idalia, likely to become a Category 1 hurricane, is brewing in the Gulf of Mexico. 

Although the consensus from the latest spaghetti models show the storm veering away from the Fort Myers-Naples area, which is still recovering from Ian, a state of emergency has been declared in 33 counties in the state of Florida. 

Tropical Storm Idalia could become a Category 1 hurricane. (Photo Credit: National Weather Service)

That includes Central Florida and the Orlando area, which is home to several major theme parks. Although the storm is not expected to be as powerful as Ian, it will nonetheless bring rain, which could be a washout for the  parks. 

Travelers heading to Florida this week should keep an eye on the weather. The brunt of the storm is not expected to hit Central Florida until Tuesday or Wednesday. As of Sunday morning, there have been little to no delays or flight cancellations. The center of the storm moved over Cozumel  Sunday and, according to the most recent models, landfall is expected to be in the Florida panhandle.

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