Tropical Storm Idalia is approaching the Gulf Coast of Florida, leading to the issuance of a hurricane watch

Florida's Gulf Coast is under a hurricane watch in preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia, which is anticipated to strengthen into a hurricane before making landfall later this week. The watch extends from Englewood to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay, as outlined in the latest update from the National Hurricane Center on Sunday. Additionally, a tropical storm watch has been issued for the Gulf Coast from Englewood to Chokoloskee and the Dry Tortugas.

At present, Tropical Storm Idalia is situated about 100 miles east of Cozumel, Mexico, moving at a pace of approximately 3 mph, with maximum sustained winds at 40 mph, as reported by the hurricane center.

The projected path of Idalia indicates that it will gradually traverse the Yucatán Channel over the next 24 to 36 hours, bringing tropical storm conditions to the eastern regions of Yucatán, Mexico, and the western edge of Cuba by Monday.

Forecasters anticipate that Idalia will reach the Big Bend area of Florida as a Category 2 hurricane on Wednesday morning. The hurricane center's update indicates, "Strengthening is forecast, and Idalia is expected to become a hurricane over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico by early Tuesday... Additional strengthening is likely as Idalia approaches the northeastern Gulf coast." Hurricane reconnaissance missions are underway to gather data as the storm intensifies.

The hurricane center has highlighted the possibility of "rapid intensification," given the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, where the storm could experience a significant increase in maximum sustained winds within a 24-hour period.

Predictions indicate that Idalia could bring rainfall ranging from 3 to 6 inches across areas such as western Cuba, Florida's west coast, the Panhandle, and southern Georgia, with isolated accumulations of up to 10 inches. This heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding, particularly in parts of Cuba, Florida, and the southeastern United States.

Life-threatening storm surge, heavy rainfall, and hurricane-force winds are expected to impact Florida starting as early as Tuesday, with the storm primarily affecting parts of the Southeast by Wednesday.

Florida's Governor, Ron DeSantis, has urged residents to heed the guidance of local officials, while the state's emergency operations center is set to operate around the clock in anticipation of the storm's arrival. Preparations are underway, including the mobilization of National Guardsmen and deployment of resources for potential rescue efforts.

President Joe Biden has been briefed on the storm's progression, and people living in the Yucatán Peninsula, Cuba, and the northern Gulf and Florida coasts are advised to monitor the forecast closely.

The storm's trajectory is expected to take it into the Gulf of Mexico by Monday, possibly developing into a hurricane by Tuesday and potentially impacting the western Florida Peninsula by Wednesday. The strength of the storm will depend on various factors, including the sea surface temperatures and upper-level wind conditions.

In the central Atlantic, what was Tropical Storm Franklin has intensified into a Category 1 hurricane named Franklin, with its path and potential impact on Bermuda being closely monitored.