Hurricane Idalia timeline: What to expect as storm hits Florida
TAMPA - The Tampa Bay area is feeling the effects of Hurricane Idalia, which is expected to become a major Category 4 hurricane as it makes landfall to our north Wednesday afternoon.
A hurricane warning is in effect for a good portion of the Tampa Bay area, including Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sumter counties.
As of Tuesday evening, the storm had grown to a strong Category 2 hurricane with winds reaching 110 miles per hour as it moves north at 17 miles per hour. Storm bands from the hurricane were already brushing the Bay Area's coast and extending across the state.
FOX 13 Meteorologist Dave Osterberg says it is important to focus on the cone of the storm and not the center line when looking at computer models.
The Bay Area is on the right-hand side of the storm, which, according to FOX 13 meteorologists, is the "bad side." That means there will be a lot of wind piling up along the coastline.
Conditions will quickly begin deteriorating Tuesday night into early Wednesday as the storm moves closer to Florida.
Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties
Wind: Tropical storm-force winds will begin Tuesday night with gusts of over 50 mph possible. Isolated tornados possible.
Flooding: Storm surge of 6 to 9 feet along the coast, with the highest surge early Wednesday morning. Citrus County storm surge could reach 7-11 feet.
Rain: 5-10 inches of rain will fall with freshwater flooding expected.
Hillsborough and Pinellas counties
Wind: Tropical storm-force winds will begin Tuesday night with gusts of over 50 mph possible.
Flooding: Storm surge of 4 to 6 feet early Wednesday morning with significant flooding possible.
Rain: 3 to 6 inches of rainfall overall, with isolated amounts reaching 10 inches.
Manatee and Sarasota Counties
Wind: Tropical storm-force winds will begin Tuesday night with gusts of over 50 mph possible. Isolated tornados possible.
Flooding: Coastal flooding possible.
Rain: 3 to 5 inches of rainfall overall.
Polk, Hardee, DeSoto and Highlands counties
Inland, Polk, Hardee, DeSoto and Highlands Counties may see 40 mph wind gusts and 2 to 4 inches of rain with the possibility of an isolated tornado.