Tropical Storm Idalia is set to intensify into a hurricane on Monday on its way toward Florida, which is bracing for its first major storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.
The storm is expected to make landfall Wednesday on Florida’s Gulf Coast as a dangerous major hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Idalia, which strengthened into a tropical storm Sunday, could become at least a major Category 3 hurricane before it reaches Florida. The storm Monday morning was swirling northward in the Gulf of Mexico toward western Cuba, forecasters said.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for more than two dozen counties in the path of the storm.
Idalia was expected to cut through Florida’s west coast and parts of the Panhandle before reaching southern Georgia and the eastern Carolinas later in the week, forecasters said. Florida was set to get flash floods and dangerous hurricane-force winds up to 100 miles an hour as early as Tuesday. Parts of Cuba could experience those conditions Monday.
Forecasters said much of the Southeast would get rain later this week because of the storm. Parts of northern Florida could see as much as a foot of rain.
The storm is the first major hurricane of the Atlantic hurricane season, which typically runs from June to November. Idalia isn’t forecast to be as powerful as last September’s deadly Hurricane Ian. Ian battered Florida and the Carolinas and killed at least 140 people.
A rare tropical storm struck the West earlier this month. Hilary caused less damage than feared in Southern California.