As the Tampa Bay region prepares for Tropical Storm Idalia, we have a 5pm update of the storms intensity/movements.

At 5 p.m. Monday, Tropical Storm Idalia was located about 35 miles south-southwest of the western tip of Cuba. Forecasters report that life-threatening storm surge and dangerous winds are likely for portions of Florida. The Tampa Bay area can expect to see 4-7 ft of storm surge. The good news is it looks like the storms path took another shift west, getting further from Tampa Bay.

Here are the latest observations on what will become Hurricane Idalia sometime today from Denis Phillips from ABC Action News as well as other Tampa weather experts.

• Nearing Hurricane Strength

  On the verge of becoming a hurricane… As of the 5pm update, Tropical Storm Idalia was moving at 8 MPH with winds sustaining 70 MPH.

  Tropical Storm #Idalia Advisory 9: Idalia Nearing Hurricane Strength as it Approaches Western Cuba. Life-Threatening Storm Surge and Dangerous Winds Becoming Increasingly Likely For Portions of Florida. https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ

  — National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 28, 2023

  Idalia looks a little more impressive... More than likely, we'll have a hurricane later this evening. #SpectrumNews1 #ncwx #TropicalStormIdalia pic.twitter.com/NNzhpgcIxL

  — Chief Meteorologist Gary Stephenson (@GStephenson_Wx) August 28, 2023

• Moving West

  The good news for the Tampa Bay area is that the forecast has shifted the track of the storm to the west.

  Just a very slight nudge to the west on the 5:00 pm advisory. Any shift to the west is good for our coast. Farther away the better, and the key to avoiding a really really bad situation is to keep the core (eye wall) off shore. This track still results in a significant storm… pic.twitter.com/LAMtCEl7iu

  — Paul Dellegatto⚡️FOX (@PaulFox13) August 28, 2023

  Not much change with the 5pm Advisory. #Idalia is moving northward slowly. #FLwx pic.twitter.com/dBxkCtqhQb

  — Spectrum Bay News 9 Weather (@bn9weather) August 28, 2023

• Watch The Tides

  The high tide around 3:00 AM Wednesday is going to be a problem.
  
  Storm surge is defined as the abnormal rise of water generated by a storm, over and above the normal astronomical tide, and is expressed in terms of height above predicted or expected tide levels.
  
  An approaching… pic.twitter.com/48S8xrfulU

  — Paul Dellegatto⚡️FOX (@PaulFox13) August 28, 2023

• Expected Timeline

  Monday:

  Spend the day gathering supplies and prepping your home and family. Learn your evacuation zone and plan. News Channel 8 reports Tropical Storm Idalia is expected to continue its current track north through Monday evening bringing strong winds and heavy rain to Cuba.

  Tuesday:

  By early Tuesday, the center of Idalia is forecast to pass over the extreme southeastern Gulf of Mexico as a category 2 hurricane. The Tampa Bay area is expected to see a lot of rain Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning. Tampa weather expert Denis Phillips is expecting to see a significant amount of storm surge Tuesday night into Wednesday.

  Wednesday:

  The evening projection models show that Idalia is forecast to be a “dangerous major hurricane” when it reaches the Gulf coast of Florida. With the latest shift to the west, Tampa Bay is likely to experience some of the outer bands of the storm.

   

   

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