GREENSBORO, N.C. — Idalia continues to get stronger. Winds are now at 85 mph winds. With very warm water in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico and low wind shear, the hurricane could rapidly strengthen today and overnight. Idalia could be a dangerous, major category 3 hurricane as it moves inland over the Big Bend area of Florida on Wednesday. Idalia will weaken to a tropical storm as it track northeast along the South Carolina moving to near Myrtle Beach and Wilmington on Thursday. Tropical storm winds near 60 mph and over 4" of rain are expected over coaster southeastern N.C.
Satellite views shows a rather mature tropical system. Clouds are in a circle indicating low wind shear. This combined with very warm sea surface temperatures suggest strengthening is likely.
For the Piedmont rain and wind will depend on the exact track of Idalia. Our rainfall amounts will likely be between .25" to near one inch. Winds could gust to near 30-35 mph. These impacts will be Wednesday night and Thursday.
If the track moves further west, we could see more rain and stronger winds. A more eastern track would decrease any impacts from Idalia.
We continue to track powerful Hurricane Franklin. It is expected to begin a weakening process as it move over colder waters of the North Atlantic. the hurricane will continue to produce dangerous rip currents along the East Coast for a few more days.
September is normally the most active month of the hurricane season. Tropical systems can form over the open Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, or the Gulf of Mexico. This is mainly because sea surface temperatures are their warmest during September.
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