Tropical Storm Idalia hit Florida on Wednesday as a major Category 3 hurricane, bringing with it damaging winds and record storm surge. The system then made its way into Georgia, where it continued to wreak havoc as a tropical storm. Omar Villafranca reports.
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Idalia’s record storm surge hit the small community of Steinhatchee, Florida, particularly hard. The town was submerged as the storm made landfall. Jason Allen reports.
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Idalia was downgraded to a tropical storm and had moved into Georgia by Wednesday evening. The Weather Channel meteorologist Mike Seidel looks at the storm’s path as it moved toward South Carolina.
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We’ll be using this page to update our viewing area on school impacts due to Idalia.
School Closings by County:
Citrus County
NEW: The school system will reopen Friday.
In a statement Thursday, the district said: “After receiving the latest update from Emergency Management officials and having assessed the damages in our facilities sustained from Hurricane Idalia, I am pleased to share that schools will be reopen tomorrow Friday, September 1st. Should you have any issues or concerns, please contact the administration at your school. As always, we appreciate your time, understanding, and patience during these uncertain times.”
Due to the coastal impact in our county from Hurricane Idalia, schools are continuing to be used as shelters.
School will be cancelled, Thursday, Aug. 31.
After the next high tide, more info regarding a projected date of school reopening will be announced.
Hernando County
All Hernando County schools and district offices will reopen Thursday, Aug. 31.
Students impacted by coastal flooding will be provided an excused absence.
Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County Schools are reopening on Thursday, Aug. 31.
Manatee County
All Manatee District Schools will reopen Thursday, August 31.
Pasco County
All Pasco County schools will be open on Thursday, August 31.
This includes athletics, PLACE, Delta, Star, and all other extracurricular activities.
Pinellas County
Schools will be open for normal operations on Thursday, August 31.
Polk County
All Polk County schools and offices will reopen Friday, Sept. 1.
University of South Florida: USF says classes will resume Thursday, Aug. 31, except for classes at Mote Marine.
University of Tampa: Regular operations are scheduled to resume Thursday, Aug. 31 at noon.
St. Petersburg College: Campuses/sites open and all classes resuming — on Thursday, Aug. 31.
Florida State University: Classes and normal university operations will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 5.
FAMU: Classes and Universtiy operations remain suspended through Friday, Sept. 1. Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 5.
Polk State College: PSC classes and operations will resume Thursday, Aug. 31.
Keiser University: Classes will resume at the following Keiser University campuses on Thursday, August 31, 2023. All campuses will be open for regular operations unless otherwise noted.
There are a few ways to gauge the expected severity of a hurricane, but one of the more unusual is by the Waffle House index. If Waffle House locations in the path of a hurricane are open, that’s a sign there is limited damage from the storm. If locations are closed — which is the case for some in Florida due to Hurricane Idalia — then conditions are unsafe.
The Waffle House index uses a green, yellow and red rating to measure how bad storms are: green means the full menu is being served and there is little storm damage; yellow means there is a limited menu because they are likely using a generator for power or they are low on supplies; red means the restaurant is closed because the storm is severe.
As of midday Wednesday, 15 Waffle House locations were without power – but some were in the yellow zone of the index, because they were open and operating with generators, a representative for the chain told CBS News via email. At least five locations were in the red zone of the index, because they were in the direct path of Idalia after it made landfall. Two others in St. Petersburg were closed due to storm surge.
Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall Wednesday on Florida’s Gulf Coast, brought “catastrophic” storm surge and “damaging” winds to the area, the National Hurricane Center said. It was briefly a Category 4 storm before weakening to a Category 3.
Many of the 1,600 Waffle House locations are in hurricane-prone areas on the East and Gulf Coasts. Waffle House strives to be open when people are desperate – and the chain has proven to be reliable after devastating hurricanes.
“I hadn’t had a hot meal in two days, and I knew they’d be open,” Waffle House customer Nicole Gainey told the Wall Street Journal after Hurricane Irene devastated North Carolina in 2017. Despite the storm knocking out power, a local Waffle House in Weldon stayed open – a beacon of hope for people like Gainey.
Idalia strengthened into an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico early Wednesday but then weakened slightly back to a Category 3. Still, it was bringing a “catastrophic” storm surge and “destructive” winds as it headed for landfall in the morning along Florida’s Gulf Coast, the National Hurricane Center warned.
Its path is expected to impact a wide central portion of the state, including cities such as Tampa and Orlando, before moving along the Georgia and Carolina coastline Wednesday into Thursday.
Hurricane Idalia ever-so-close to making landfall over the Florida Panhandle early on August 30, 2023.
National Hurricane Center / NOAA
When is Hurricane Idalia expected to make landfall?
Idalia is expected to reach land along the Gulf Coast of Florida early Wednesday, likely in the Big Bend area, with hurricane conditions extending along the coast.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a briefing that people living along Florida’s Gulf Coast should prepare for “major impacts” from the oncoming storm.
At a briefing Tuesday evening, DeSantis urged people to leave immediately if they are in an evacuation zone.
“If you stay hunkered down tonight, it’s going to be too nasty tomorrow morning to be able to do it,” he said.
“If you do choose to stay in one of the evacuation zones, first responders will not be able to get you until after the storm has passed.”
Hurricane Idalia’s location and warnings
Idalia was moving toward the Florida coast from the Gulf of Mexico. As the storm intensified, meteorologists warned that it could bring “catastrophic” storm surge and “destructive winds” to the Big Bend region as it moved over land.
The hurricane center said that, “After landfall, Idalia is forecast to turn toward the northeast and east-northeast, moving near or along the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina late today (Wednesday) and Thursday.”
“While Idalia should weaken after landfall,” the center continued, “it is likely to still be a hurricane while moving across southern Georgia, and near the coast of Georgia or southern South Carolina late today. Idalia should emerge off the southeastern United States coast early on Thursday and move eastward through late week.”
As of 5 a.m. EDT Wednesday, Idalia’s center was approximately 60 miles west of Cedar Key, Fla. and 90 miles south of Tallahassee. The storm was moving north-northeast at 18 mph with maximum sustained winds of 130 miles per hour, the threshold for a major Category 4, according to the hurricane center.
A storm must have maximum sustained winds of at least 74 mph for it to be classified as a hurricane. Once wind speeds reach 111 mph, the hurricane becomes a Category 3 and is considered a major storm.
On Facebook early Wednesday, Cedar Key resident Michael Presley Bobbitt posted video of water coming up to his home and said, “The water just keeps coming. Pray for Cedar Key.”
CBS News senior weather and climate producer David Parkinson noted Tuesday that current estimates suggest the storm could arrive on Wednesday by 11 a.m. EDT. He said the massive storm surge expected to accompany Idalia’s arrival on land “is the primary threat with this storm.”
“There is likely a level of people being caught off guard farther south as the storm is just skirting by,” he said. “The storm surge may go as far as US19 inland, so there’s a lot of area covered by that, even if the coast isn’t populated like near Naples. No one alive in these areas has seen flooding this bad there if it hits max potential.”
Forecasters have put communities under a range of severe weather advisories, from hurricane and tropical storm warnings and watches to storm surge warnings and watches.
Hurricane warnings were extended up the East Coast from Altamaha Sound, Georgia to Edisto Beach, South Carolina. A storm surge warning was extended to the stretch from St. Catherine’s Sound, Georgia to the South Santee River in South Carolina.
Previously, hurricane warnings were in effect from the middle of Longboat Key northward to Indian Pass, Fla., including Tampa Bay and a storm surge warning was issued from Englewood north to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay.
The hurricane center says the storm surge could get as high as 16 feet in the area from the Wakulla/Jefferson County line in Florida Yankeetown, Fla. and as high as 6 feet in Tampa Bay.
At a Thursday morning briefing as Idalia bore down on Florida, DeSantis said water the deep is “life-threatening.”
He urged people to “hunker down” if they’re indoors,” stressing that Idalia is a “big, big deal” and “very dangerous.”
DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 49 counties and the state mobilized more than 5,500 National Guard members to respond to the storm. Between 30,000 and 40,000 electricity workers would be on hand to restore power after the storm hits, the governor said.
Evacuation orders or recommendations were posted in 28 counties and dozens of school districts across Florida had suspended classes.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Franklin, to the east over the Atlantic, was churning on a track that’s expected to keep it off the East Coast.
It was a major Category 3 hurricane early Wednesday packing 115 mph sustained winds and bringing “life-threatening surf and rip currents” along the East Coast and was forecast to bring tropical storm conditions to Bermuda starting later on Wednesday, the hurricane center said.
Meteorologists rate hurricanes according to the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale, categorizing storms that fall within Categories 3, 4 or 5 as “major” hurricanes capable of causing “significant loss of life and damage,” according to the National Hurricane Center. The categories are based on a hurricane’s maximum sustained wind speeds.
Where is Hurricane Idalia going to hit?
Florida’s Gulf Coast is in Idalia’s sights, putting communities at risk in central parts of the state and up through the Panhandle.
With hurricane preparations underway, DeSantis urged people living in low-lying coastal areas along the Gulf, many of whom are under evacuation notices ahead of Idalia’s anticipated arrival, to move to higher ground until the storm passes.
“You run from the water and you hide from the wind. If you’re there in that storm surge, you’re putting your life in jeopardy when it gets to be that high,” the governor said.
Map shows the forecast for dangerous storm surge from Hurricane Idalia in Florida, as of Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023.
NOAA/National Weather Service
A major hurricane has never entered the Apalachee Bay, located just south of Tallahassee where the Florida peninsula meets the mainland U.S., said the city’s National Weather Service branch, which called the potential arrival of Idalia “unprecedented” and warned that hurricane “preparations need to be rushed to completion by sunset” on Tuesday.
Conditions were expected to “rapidly deteriorate” after that, the weather service said.
“Hurricane Idalia will likely be an unprecedented event for many locations in the Florida Big Bend. Looking back through recorded history, NO major hurricanes have ever moved through the Apalachee Bay. When you try to compare this storm to others, DON’T. No one has seen this,” reads a message posed to the front page of the website for NWS Tallahassee.
As Idalia intensified Tuesday, DeSantis told Florida residents: “There’s a huge number of counties that are going to feel impacts from this.” He referenced updated computer models from the National Hurricane Center that indicated the storm could impact inland areas as well, including Columbia County and Madison County, which sit near Florida’s border with Georgia, between Tallahassee and Jacksonville.
Earlier, the National Weather Service warned, “The risk continues to increase for life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force winds along portions of the west coast of Florida and the Florida Panhandle beginning as early as late Tuesday.”
As the agency noted, storm surge watches and hurricane watches were in effect for large portions of the Gulf Coast of Florida.
Storm surge could reach up to 12 feet or 15 feet for much of northwestern Florida and into the panhandle, meteorologists warned, while coastal areas as far south as Cape Sable, in the Everglades, and the Florida Keys could see storm surges of up to 2 or 3 feet above ground level.
Storm surge is a rise in water levels caused by hurricane-force winds that push water toward shore and over areas of land that are normally dry, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This phenomenon is considered the greatest threat to life during a hurricane.
Forecasters also warned that “areas of flash and urban flooding, some of which may be locally significant, are expected across portions of the west coast of Florida, the Florida Panhandle, and southern Georgia Tuesday into Wednesday, spreading into portions of the eastern Carolinas Wednesday into Thursday.”
Tropical storm warnings were issued for areas stretching from the Altamaha Sound in Georgia to the South Santee River in South Carolina as of 11 a.m. on Tuesday. A tropical storm watch was in effect for much of the Carolina coast, from the South Santee River up to Surf City in North Carolina.
8/28 10am CDT: There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge inundation from #Idalia along portions of the Florida Gulf Coast where a Storm Surge Warning is in effect, including Tampa Bay & the Big Bend. Residents in these areas should follow advice from local officials. pic.twitter.com/t0s8WghUJu
A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the boundaries of the warning area, while a hurricane watch means those conditions are possible, according to the National Hurricane Center. Forecasters are urging people in areas under hurricane warnings to prepare for the onset of conditions within the next 12 to 24 hours. People living in areas placed under storm surge watches should prepare for the “possibility of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline” over the next 48 hours, the hurricane center said.
There is a possibility of strong and potentially damaging wind gusts from Idalia that could “extend well eastward from the storm’s center” once it makes landfall in Florida, the weather service said. Meteorologists added that torrential downpours could also happen in eastern parts of the state, which may be subject to increasing tornado threats as well.
Map of Hurricane Idalia’s projected path
Meteorologists are forecasting a northeastern path for Idalia as it intensifies, tracking over the Gulf of Mexico toward the northwest coast of Florida throughout Tuesday and into Wednesday.
After making landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast, Idalia is expected to continue across northern Florida and coastal Georgia and the Carolinas on Wednesday and Thursday, decreasing in strength as it travels.
NOAA / NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
Will Idalia and Franklin hit Florida at the same time?
Hurricane Franklin is not expected to hit Florida, but it will cause rough surf conditions and rip currents. Officials haven’t issued any forecasts suggesting that Franklin will make landfall anywhere along the East Coast.
Satellite image shows Hurricane Idalia, center, and Hurricane Franklin, right, on August 29, 2023.
NOAA
As Idalia approaches, the National Weather Service has issued tropical storm watches and warnings for parts of eastern central Florida, including Orlando, where residents have been urged to prepare for “local tropical storm conditions by Tuesday night and into Wednesday.
An incoming “long-period swell” in the Atlantic caused by Hurricane Franklin will make the coast susceptible to “high seas, rough surf, an increase in life-threatening rip currents, and beach erosion during high tides during Tuesday and Wednesday,” according to the hurricane center.
Hurricane Idalia is gaining strength as it moves toward Florida, where residents are scrambling to prepare for the impacts of what is forecast to be a major storm. Idalia is expected to grow into an extremely dangerous hurricane before it makes landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
“Life-threatening” storm surge and hurricane conditions are expected along parts of the Gulf Coast Tuesday night and Wednesday, the hurricane center said.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency covering 46 counties. Evacuation notices have been issued in 22 counties, with mandatory orders in effect for some people in eight of them, The Associated Press reports.
“You still have time this morning to make your final preparations,” DeSantis said, “but you gotta do that now.”
“You do not have to leave the state. You don’t have to drive hundreds of miles,” he said. “You have to get to higher ground in a safe structure. You can ride the storm out there, then go back to your home.”
Idalia is expected to make landfall along the Gulf Coast of Florida on Wednesday, likely centered in the Big Bend area, with hurricane conditions extending along the coast.
The storm could arrive on Wednesday morning between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. ET, CBS News senior weather and climate producer David Parkinson said.
Hurricane maps show the projected path of the storm and its impacts.
NOAA / National Weather Service
NOAA / National Weather Service
What category of storm will Hurricane Idalia be?
Hurricane Idalia is forecast to strengthen into at least a Category 3 hurricane.
“This is going to be a major impact,” DeSantis said at a news conference Monday. “And Floridians should expect that this storm will be a major Cat 3+ hurricane, so please prepare accordingly.”
Category 3 storms have sustained wind speeds of 111-129 mph and are expected to produce devastating damage, including downed trees, major damage to homes and days- or weeks-long cuts to electricity and water, the hurricane center says.
A Category 3 storm — like a Category 4 or 5 — is considered a “major” hurricane due to the potential for “significant loss of life and damage,” the National Hurricane Center says.
Hurricane watches and warnings are in effect for parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast as the storm is strengthening.
State of emergency in effect
DeSantis expanded a state of emergency to cover 46 Florida counties. He first issued a state of emergency on Saturday for 33 of the state’s 67 counties to ensure communities “have time to prepare for the storm system which could have impacts along the Gulf Coast next week.”
His office said over the weekend the Florida National Guard was mobilizing 1,100 personnel to support areas of the state that are impacted. Additionally, 12 aircraft and 2,400 high wheel vehicles were being mobilized.
“We are taking every precaution ahead of Hurricane Idalia’s landfall tomorrow, and I am taking this additional executive action to ensure state assets are ready to respond,” Kemp said Tuesday in a news release.
Parts of Florida’s west coast and the Florida Panhandle — as well as southeast Georgia and the eastern Carolinas — could see up to 8 inches of rainfall from Tuesday through Thursday, with up to 12 inches possible mostly in areas near where the storm makes landfall, the National Hurricane Center says. That could lead to flash and urban flooding, “some of which may be locally significant.”
Storm surge is also expected. The water level could reach as high as 15 feet in the area between the Aucilla River and Yankeetown, Florida, if storm surge coincides with high tides. It could reach as high as 11 feet in other areas, and 7 feet in Tampa Bay, according to the hurricane center.
What is storm surge?
Storm surge is “an abnormal rise of water generated by a storm,” according to the National Hurricane Center. As a storm moves toward the coast, water is pushed to the shore and “piles up,” which creates a surge.
If a storm surge and high tide take place at the same time, water levels will be even higher. The combination is known as storm tide.
Storm surge is one of the deadliest hazards of a hurricane. It is also “a very complex phenomenon,” according to the hurricane center,” because it depends on factors including a storm’s wind speeds, size and angle of approach to the coastline, as well as the shape and characteristics of the coast.
A storm surge warning is in effect for Englewood north to Indian Pass, Florida. A storm surge watch is in effect for Chokoloskee to Englewood, including Charlotte Harbour, as well as for the mouth of the St. Mary’s River to South Santee River, South Carolina.
Hurricane Idalia is barreling toward Florida and is expected to affect a large portion of the state and bring a massive storm surge. The flooding may be made worse due to a so-called “king tide.” What is that and how is it affecting evacuation orders?
What is a “king tide”?
King tide is a non-scientific term to describe extremely high ocean tides, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Tides are affected by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun, and are usually higher when the moon is new or full.
King tides are the highest tides of the year and normally occur twice yearly in coastal areas, causing unusually high flood levels and possible tidal flooding, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
There will be a full moon on Wednesday, Aug. 30, the day Hurricane Idalia is expected to make landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast. NOAA projected higher tides on the dates of the full and new moons in August — including Aug. 30.
Sea levels are also typically higher in the late summer and early fall because of the changing weather patterns and warmer temperatures, according to NOAA.
Several areas of Florida are forecast to have their highest tides on Aug. 30, including Sarasota, which is on the Gulf Coast to the south of where the storm is expected to make landfall.
Idalia is forecast to move over the Carolina coastline on Thursday, and the North Carolina King Tides Project also forecasts a king tide there on Aug. 30.
Florida residents are urged to check if they live in an evacuation zone by using a map on the Florida Division of Emergency Management website.
As of Tuesday, there is a mandatory evacuation order for much of the Gulf Coast from Tampa Bay northwards — from Pinellas County, which includes St. Petersburg, north and west along the coast to Gulf and Franklin counties, which are east of Panama City. Some counties, like Hernando County, north of Tampa, and Volusia County on the East Coast, are under voluntary evacuation orders as of Tuesday.
A map from the Florida Division of Emergency Management shows which counties are under an evacuation order on Tuesday as Hurricane Idalia makes its way to the state. The storm is expected to make landfall on Wednesday.
Florida Division of Emergency Management
The state division says the “greatest threat to life from a hurricane is storm surge flooding.” Storm surge occurs when water levels rise due to a storm. This can cause extreme flooding — particularly in coastal areas and especially when it occurs at high tide, which is expected during Idalia.
Those who live in evacuation zones, live in mobile homes or unsafe structures or live in low-lying flood areas should leave the area when an evacuation order is in place. For those who don’t live in these areas, it may be safer to hunker down at home during the storm.
How to prepare for evacuation
If you live in an evacuation zone and have been asked to leave the area ahead of a major storm like Idalia, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends packing up a few essential items before you head out, including cellphones, chargers, medicines and licenses or other forms of identification, as well as cash. All of these things can be put in an emergency supply kit that is easy to grab when you leave.
Before you evacuate, unplug appliances and try to turn off your home’s electricity, gas and water, the CDC says.
Evacuees should heed instructions from local authorities and also look into which roads may be opened or already affected by the storm — and always avoid those that are flooding.
If you have animals, look for pet-friendly places to stay ahead of your departure or ask shelters for advice.
Whether you are planning to evacuate or not, prepare your home for a storm by gathering emergency supplies like food, water and flashlights and making sure your car’s gas tank is full or, if you don’t have a car, planning another means to help you evacuate if needed.
You can also help safeguard your house by boarding up windows and clearing your yard of things that can blow around in the wind.
The Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1 and runs through Nov. 30. Hurricanes are rated on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which includes five categories based on the storm’s sustained wind speeds. It also estimates possible damage to property, ranging from “some damage” to “catastrophic.”
The 2023 season saw its first major storm in late August, with Hurricane Franklin. The Category 4 hurricane was not forecast to make landfall but was was still expected to cause “life-threatening surf and rip current conditions” along the U.S. East Coast. Meanwhile, forecasters said Idalia became a major hurricane on a path to hit Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday, Aug. 30.
What is a “major hurricane?”
If a storm is a Category 3, 4 or 5, it is deemed a “major” hurricane due to the potential for “significant loss of life and damage,” the National Hurricane Center says. Hurricanes that fall into categories 1 or 2 are still considered dangerous, the center says.
What are the categories of hurricanes and what do they mean?
Here is how the scale breaks down, according to the National Hurricane Center, starting with a look at the most powerful:
Category 5
Sustained wind speed of157 mph or higher
“Catastrophic damage will occur: A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months,” the National Hurricane Center says.
Notable storms: There are 39 Category 5 storms on record, including 1992’s Hurricane Andrew, the most destructive storm to ever hit Florida; 2017’s Irma, which devastated Barbuda, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin, Anguilla, and the Virgin Islands as a Category 5 before surpassed Andrew as the costliest hurricane to ever hit Florida when it made landfall there as a Category 4; and 1969’s Camille, which brought a peak storm surge of 24 feet and killed more than 250 people after it made landfall in Mississippi.
Category 4
Sustained wind speed of 130-156 mph
“Catastrophic damage will occur: Well-built framed homes can sustain severe damage with loss of most of the roof structure and/or some exterior walls. Most trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.”
Notable storms:Hurricane Harvey made landfall as a Category 4 storm in Texas and Louisiana in 2017, leaving catastrophic flooding in its wake; 2021’s Hurricane Ida came ashore in Louisiana as a Category 4, where it caused severe flooding, knocked out power to more than a million people and spawned tornadoes as it moved northeast.
Category 3
Sustained wind speed of 111-129 mph
“Devastating damage will occur: Well-built framed homes may incur major damage or removal of roof decking and gable ends. Many trees will be snapped or uprooted, blocking numerous roads. Electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks after the storm passes.”
Notable storms: The busy 2020 hurricane season saw late-season Hurricane Zeta strengthen to a Category 3 storm just before making landfall in Louisiana as a Category 2 storm; 2005’s Hurricane Wilma, which had achieved a peak of Category 5, was a Category 3 when the storm hit Florida.
Category 2
Sustained wind speed of 96-110 mph
“Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage: Well-constructed frame homes could sustain major roof and siding damage. Many shallowly rooted trees will be snapped or uprooted and block numerous roads. Near-total power loss is expected with outages that could last from several days to weeks.”
Notable storms: Hurricane Floyd made landfall North Carolina in 1999 as a Category 2 storm, causing widespread flooding as it traveled up the coast and leading to the cancellation of schools in New Jersey and New York City; when Hurricane Ike made landfall as a Category 2 storm in Texas in 2008, it had weakened from its peak strength as a Category 4 storm.
Category 1
Sustained wind speed of 74-95 mph
“Very dangerous winds will produce some damage: Well-constructed frame homes could have damage to roof, shingles, vinyl siding and gutters. Large branches of trees will snap and shallowly rooted trees may be toppled. Extensive damage to power lines and poles likely will result in power outages that could last a few to several days.”
Notable storms:Hurricane Sandy was only a Category 1 storm when the superstorm came ashore in New Jersey in 2012, its storm surge flooding New York City; 2011’s Hurricane Irene was a Category 1 storm when it hit North Carolina, but had weakened to a tropical storm by the time it returned to land in New Jersey, causing widespread flooding there, in New York and as north as Vermont.
Should there be a Category 6?
In the midst of an unusually ferocious string of hurricanes in 2017, there was some speculation about whether storms could hit a Category 6. There is officially no such thing as a Category 6 hurricane. But the idea of revising or adding to the scale has been discussed by some climate scientists who believe the current categories may not be adequate for increasingly extreme storms in the future.
What category was Hurricane Katrina?
Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005 as a Category X storm, ultimately flooding more than 80% of New Orleans and killing more than 1,200 people — making it one of the deadliest hurricanes to strike the U.S. It is one of the costliest hurricanes in U.S. history, doing more than $75 billion in damage. Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida all saw destruction from Katrina.
What category was Hurricane Ian?
Hurricane Ian was a strong Category 4 as it made landfall on Florida’s west coast in 2022. The deadly storm knocked out power to millions. Experts said the storm’s rapid intensification, thanks to warm sea temperatures — and warming seas are linked to climate change, which will likely not only make strong hurricanes occur more frequently, make storms move more slowly and allow them to hold more water, leading to more rain.
A Florida utility is preparing for power outages as Tropical Storm Idalia chugs toward the state’s Gulf Coast region, where it is expected to turn into a Category 3 hurricane before making landfall on Wednesday.
Duke Energy said Monday it is mobilizing 4,500 employees, including power line technicians, vegetation workers, damage assessors and support personnel, to respond to any disruptions to the electric grid in potentially affected areas.
“Duke Energy is actively monitoring Idalia’s path, intensity and timing, and staging resources in safe locations to respond to outages as soon as it’s safe to do so,” Todd Fountain, storm director at Duke Energy Florida, said in a statement. “As we prepare to respond, it’s important our customers take this storm seriously and ensure their homes and families are prepared.”
Forecasters project that the storm system will make landfall along the west coast of Florida, threatening communities in central parts of the state, including cities like Orlando and Tampa, and up through the panhandle.
“Idalia is now forecast to become a major hurricane before it reaches the Gulf coast of Florida,” the National Weather Service tweeted on Monday morning. “The risk continues to increase for life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force winds along portions of the west coast of Florida and the Florida Panhandle beginning as early as late Tuesday.”
Members of the Tampa, Fla., Parks and Recreation Department help local residents load sandbags on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, ahead of the arrival of Tropical Storm Idalia, which forecasters warned could make landfall on Wednesday as a Category 3 hurricane.
Chris O’Meara / AP
The company’s Florida operation, a subsidiary of Charlotte, North Carolina-based Duke Energy, also advised local residents to prepare for the approaching storm, including:
Arranging alternative shelter in case of power outages, especially seniors and people with special medical needs.
Ensuring that people have enough flashlights, batteries, bottled water, nonperishable foods, medicines and other necessities on hand, along with a portable, battery-operated radio, TV or weather radio.
Arranging backup power for residents who rely on medical equipment and planning on how to transport someone to the nearest hospital in case of an emergency.
Duke Energy also advised Floridians to stay away from downed or sagging power lines. Residents can report such hazards to the utility at (800) 228-8485 or contact local emergency services, the company said.
“Consider all lines energized as well as trees or limbs in contact with lines,” Duke Energy noted.
Customers can stay abreast of any power disruptions by signing up for outage alerts, said the company, which supplies electricity to 1.9 million residential, commercial and industrial customers in Florida.
Storm surge and hurricane watches have been issued for portions of Cuba and the Florida Gulf Coast as Tropical Storm Idalia is forecast to become a hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center said.
The NHC issued a storm surge watch Sunday afternoon for the Gulf Coast from Chokoloskee to Indian Pass, and a hurricane watch from Englewood to Indian Pass. Both watches include Tampa Bay.
A tropical storm watch was also issued for the Gulf Coast south of Englewood to Chokoloskee, and for the Dry Tortugas, NHC said in its latest public advisory.
4 PM CDT 27 Aug: #Idalia is forecast to become a hurricane over the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Storm Surge and Hurricane Watches have been issued for portions of the Florida Gulf Coast. Interests in Florida need to closely monitor the latest forecast updates: https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFbpic.twitter.com/LdE84OKWwm
Idalia had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph and was located about 145 miles south of Cuba as of Sunday night. It had been moving erratically and was “nearly stationary” as of 11 p.m. ET Sunday, but movement toward the north-northeast was expected Monday. Idalia is expected to strengthen to a hurricane on Monday.
The center of Idalia will move over the eastern Gulf of Mexico on Monday and Tuesday and approach the northeast Gulf Coast late Tuesday. The storm was predicted to be “near or at major hurricane intensity,” meaning Category 3 or higher, by the time it reaches Flordia.
“There is an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and hurricane-force winds along portions of the west coast of Florida and the Florida Panhandle beginning as early as Tuesday,” the NHC said.
Flooding from heavy rainfall will be likely in portions of the southeast U.S. by mid to late week.
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For many people whose homes are battered by a hurricane or tropical storm, the trauma is soon followed by another major source of stress: dealing with their insurance company to file a claim.
The U.S. suffered 20 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in 2021, with a total cost of $145 billion, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Individual homeowners whose properties are hit by a hurricane can suffer tens of thousands of dollars in damage, or even more, depending on the severity of the storm.
And the remnants of Tropical Storm Hilary delivered record-breaking rainfall to Southern California this week, flooding roads and causing mudslides, and could also cause flooding in Oregon and Idaho.
Knowing the basics about homeowners insurance and filing a claim can help avoid some pitfalls if disaster strikes. For instance, such insurance will typically cover damage from strong winds, but some policies don’t cover windstorms. Typically, property owners will have a separate deductible for hurricanes, so it pays to check what your policy covers — and, equally important, what it doesn’t — before a storm hits, experts say.
“It’s smart to look it over when you renew,” Vince Perri, founder and CEO of Elite Resolutions and a public insurance adjuster, told CBS MoneyWatch.
Here’s what to know about hurricane insurance and how to deal with your insurer after a disaster.
Check your hurricane deductible
Hurricane deductibles typically amount to between 2% and 10% of the total value of your home. But in hurricane-prone regions like Florida, where Perri is based, he recommends getting a lower deductible because of the risk of facing high out-of-pocket costs in a disaster.
“Someone sent me a policy to review and he was going to go with 10% — I told him, ‘Don’t do that, because unfortunately we get hurricanes all the time’,” he said.
For instance, a home worth $400,000 with a 10% deductible could face out-of-pocket costs of $40,000 if the property were wiped out. Going with a lower deductible may reduce incremental costs, but lead to financial disaster in case of serious damage.
“You want a 2% deductible when it comes to hurricanes,” Perri advised.
Document your home before the storm
Once a year, homeowners should walk around their property and take photos to document their home’s condition, Perri recommended. Taking this step will help you after a storm because you’ll be able to demonstrate to your insurer that the damage was actually caused by the hurricane.
“If there is a storm, the insurance company may want to say the damage they are seeing is not as a result of the hurricane but is pre-existing,” he noted. “If you have proof, that could help you tremendously.”
Take photos immediately after a hurricane
After a storm, take photos of the damage as quickly as possible to document the immediate aftermath of the hurricane. Under a provision in homeowners insurance called “Duties After Loss,” this is typically part of a homeowner’s responsibility after a disaster.
Other steps you’ll need to take under this clause may include filing a claim promptly, protecting the property from further damage and authorizing the insurance company to inspect your property. Check your policy to make sure you understand your duties in case of a storm.
File your claim quickly — and follow up
Some insurance policies require you to file your claim in a timely manner, but most homeowners are likely going to want to file as soon as possible in order to expedite payment. To that end, make sure to follow up with your insurance company at least every seven days after filing a claim, Perri recommends.
After a hurricane or other disaster, “They have got hundreds of thousands of insurance claims, so if you don’t follow up, you could get forgotten,” he added. “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.”
You don’t have to accept your insurance company’s first offer
An insurer will either deny a claim, or accept it and make a payment — but it might not be an amount that you believe is enough to repair the damage to your home. In that case, you can file an appeal.
To do that, you can ask for estimates from contractors and submit those as proof the proposed payment is too low, or hire a public insurance adjuster who works for you, the homeowner, rather than the insurance company. Public insurance adjusters generally charge a fee of between 5% and 20% of the insurance claim.
“Hire somebody that puts these estimates together that you can use to appeal,” Perri said.
If you use a contractor, make sure the estimate is extremely detailed, down to the number of coats of paint they will use to restore your house to its former state, he advised. “Documentation is king,” Perri added.
This week on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Palm Springs Mayor Grace Garner discuss preparations for Hilary as the National Hurricane Center issued its first-ever tropical storm warning for the area; plus FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell.
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No news appears to be good news when it comes to talks between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). According to a message sent to WGA members late Friday, both sides in the ongoing strike—which is now on its 110th day—”will continue to meet next week” after trading proposals during the work week.
Reps for the unions and streaming services met on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the Hollywood Reporter notes. That’s the longest streak of conversations since before “They walked away from the bargaining table and put us out on strike,” the WGA said in a written statement.
While the WGA declined to comment on the negotiations, unnamed sources within the AMPTP tell THR that “they feel talks are moving along but are not yet at a breakthrough point,” and that “There’s more positive momentum this week than last.”
Studio heads like Disney Entertainment co-chair Dana Waldman and Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos have “become more directly involved in the process,” Deadline reports, with executives independently meeting with one another in efforts to foster a deal.
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That said, folks like The Wire creator David Simon urge writers not to believe unsourced media reports about contract talks, saying they “come from the studios and are tactical and cynical.” The WGA took a similar stance, telling members to “be skeptical of rumors from third parties, knowing that the Guild will communicate when we think there is something of significance to report.”
While conversations between the writers and studios seem to be moving along, the stalemate between actors and the AMPTP continues. The WGA and SAG-AFTRA held its first coordinated bicoastal picket Friday, with actors gathering in 80-degree weather in LA and marching in front of the New York offices of Warner Bros Discovery and Netflix, Deadline reports. At present, negotiators for the actors’ guild say that the AMPTP has not reached out to resume negotiations.
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But while the landmark double strike continues, picketing will cease for now—or at least until the full shape of Hurricane Hilary is known. The Category 4 storm has prompted the National Hurricane Center to issue its first-ever tropical storm warning for the Southern California region, including “catastrophic and life-threatening flooding” a possibility in downtown L.A. as the storm reaches land on Sunday.
The historic weather conditions—reportedly the first tropical cyclone to reach that part of the state since 1939, mean both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA have decided to stay home on Monday “out of an abundance of caution,” Deadline reports, with additional cancellations possible of damage to the region is severe.
Hurricane Hilary is expected to hit Southern California as a tropical storm, with a punch that could include flash flooding and significant amounts of rain, according to the National Hurricane Center.
A tropical storm watch for much of Southern California was issued Friday morning. The National Weather Service’s San Diego outpost said this was the first time such an advisory had ever been issued for the region.
“It is rare — indeed nearly unprecedented in the modern record — to have a tropical system like this move through Southern California,” Greg Postel, a hurricane and storm specialist at the Weather Channel, told CBS News.
How rare is a hurricane on the West Coast?
When was the last time a tropical storm hit Southern California?
The last time a tropical storm made landfall in California was 84 years ago — before there was a system of naming storms.
The 1939 storm, called El Cordonazo, became the first and only tropical storm to make landfall in the state in the 20th century, according to the National Weather Service. NWS says the storm, which was at one point a hurricane, originated off the southern coast of Central America before moving north and eventually coming ashore at San Pedro, California.
Resulting floods from the storm killed at least 45 people across the Southern California region and caused $2 million in damage to structures and crops, the weather service reports. Another 48 people were also killed at sea. Cities across the Southern California region experienced torrential rains because of the tropical storm — Los Angeles, for example, saw 5.24″ in just 24 hours.
“Californians were generally unprepared and were alerted to their vulnerability to tropical storms,” NWS said of the storm in its report about significant weather events in Southern California. The weather bureau established a forecast office in Southern California in 1940 after the disaster.
Has California ever had a hurricane?
Other powerful storms have hit Southern California, including a hurricane in 1858 that hit San Diego with 75 mph winds — what would now be considered a Category 1. The hurricane, which caused extensive wind damage, is considered the only actual hurricane to hit the West Coast, according to National Weather Service.
In 1997, NWS says Hurricane Linda in the Pacific became the strongest storm recorded in the region, with 180 mph winds and 218 mph gusts. However, it didn’t make landfall in California, but as a nearby tropical storm it did cause heavy rain and thunderstorms in the area.
That hurricane occurred during an El Niño, which is a weather pattern that is caused when warmer water in the Pacific Ocean effects the jet stream, making it move south. This phenomenon can bring heavy rainfall and flooding to California and drier and warmer weather to the northern U.S. and Canada. The pattern also affects the U.S. Gulf Coast and Southwest, bringing wetter weather than usual.
California started 2023 with a barrage of storms up and down its coast. A New Year’s Eve storm brought record rainfall and landslides to Northern California. In the weeks that followed, a series of storms caused by atmospheric rivers hit the sate.
Atmospheric rivers are long regions in the atmosphere that transport water and can cause significant flooding. About eight atmospheric rivers hit the state between Dec. 26 and Jan. 14, Gov. Gavin Newson said at the time. Many of the storms caused severe flooding, risks of mudslides and evacuations.
The severe weather continued into March and grew more intense when winter storms buried areas of the state — like Yosemite National Park — in record-breaking snowfall.
By May, it was estimated the storms had swamped 150,000 acres in California’s Central Valley, destroying crops in the region responsible for producing a quarter of the nation’s food, according to numbers from Kings County officials.
Where and when will Hurricane Hilary make landfall?
On Friday morning, Hilary was off the coast of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, according to the Weather Channel. Hilary grew from a tropical storm to a Category 3 on Wednesday, and then a Category 4 on Thursday. It was expected to continue its path to Southern California and weaken back to a tropical storm — with the remnants still expected to bring flash flooding and gusty winds.
The Los Angeles Basin and the desert Southwest are expected to feel its impact over the weekend, with heavy rainfall in the area starting Friday and “peaking on Sunday and Monday,” according to the National Hurricane Center.. Hilary will continue to drench parts of California early next week while weakening.
How can Californians prepare for Hilary?
According to the National Weather Service, all people living along the coast are at risk of being affected by a hurricane or a tropical storm brewing in their region. The best thing those residents can do is prepare ahead of time.
That preparation includes developing an evacuation and communication plan, stocking up on disaster supplies, preparing your home by cutting down vulnerable trees, and staying up to date on weather forecasts and warnings. Homeowners may want to consider installing a generator and storm shutters, and check your home’s insurance status.
Hurricane Hilary is expected to hit Southern California with heavy rainfall as early as this weekend after it makes its way up Mexico’s Baja California peninsula.
Forecasters said the storm is expected to produce 3 to 6 inches of rainfall, with maximum amounts of 10 inches, across portions of Baja California through Sunday night, with the possibility of flash flooding.
There will likely be “damaging wind gusts,” especially at higher elevations, in the area, and swells along the coast, Greg Postel, a hurricane and storm specialist at the Weather Channel, told CBS News.
Hurricane Hilary off the Mexican coast early on August 18, 2023.
National Hurricane Center / NOAA
Where is Hurricane Hilary’s projected path?
As of Thursday evening, Hurricane Hilary was located about 425 miles south of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, making it a “major” Category 4, the NHC said.
The storm was moving west-northwest at 14 mph, with a turn toward the northwest expected Friday morning, followed by a turn toward the north-northwest and north on Saturday, according to the center.
Hurricane Hilary’s projected path as of 2 a.m. EDT on August 18, 2023.
National Hurricane Center
When will Hurricane Hilary hit the coast of California?
The center of the storm will approach the Baja California peninsula over the weekend, NHC said.
The storm, which is not expected to be a hurricane by the time it reaches California, is set to impact the southwestern U.S. with heavy rainfall starting Friday through early next week, “peaking on Sunday and Monday,” according to the National Hurricane Center.
“It is rare — indeed nearly unprecedented in the modern record — to have a tropical system like this move through Southern California,” Postel told CBS News.
The last time Southern California was hit by a tropical storm was in 1939, before storms were given names, CBS News senior weather and climate producer David Parkinson said. Several storms that had been hurricanes or tropical storms have impacted the state since then, but they had weakened to sub-tropical systems by that time, Parkinson noted.
The projected path of the storm showed it could make landfall anywhere from the Baja California Peninsula to as far north as Santa Barbara, California. One model showed the heaviest rain hitting the Palm Springs area after the storm makes landfall.
“But if this storm track moves just 40 miles to the west … now you take all of this heavy rain … and you shift it now into portions of Orange County. You shift it into portions of the [Inland Empire] that are very well populated,” Parkinson said.
Either situation would be cause for concern, Parkinson noted. The desert terrain around Palm Springs would not be able to handle the amount of rain expected and, if the track shifts west, the areas scorched by recent wildfires would also be inundated.
Hilary storm is likely to produce landslides and mudslides in certain areas recently burned by wildfires and storm surges along parts of the southern Baja Peninsula and the Gulf of California coast, the Weather Channel reports.
“You’re looking at a winter-like storm now in the summer in places that are not used to this amount of rain,” Parkinson said.
