Hurricane Idalia is rapidly intensifying in the Gulf of Mexico and is on a collision course with Florida. It is now an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane, making landfall in hours in the Big Bend area of Florida.

The storm is less than 60 miles away from Florida's Gulf Coast as the storm unleashes catastrophic impacts ahead of landfall. 

Damaging winds, flooding rains and life-threatening storm surges are likely along most of Florida's west coast. After slamming Florida, the storm will race northeast and bring rain, wind, and some storm surge to the Carolinas late Wednesday into Thursday.

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To provide historical context, there have been no major hurricanes tracked into Apalachee Bay since records have been kept in 1851, according to the National Weather Service in Tallahassee.

  • Residents place a wooden board to protect a house in St. Petersburg, Florida, US, on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023.
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    Residents place a wooden board to protect a house in St. Petersburg, Florida, US, on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. (Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno/Bloomberg)

"The clock has officially started. With Idalia's forward speed taking off, every hour counts," FOX Weather senior meteorologist Jordan Overton said. "All preparations must be completed now."

HURRICANE IDALIA FORMS AND INTENSIFIES, EYEING FLORIDA AS A MAJOR HURRICANE WITH LIFE-THREATENING IMPACTS

The latest on Hurricane Idalia.
(FOX Weather)

 

Here are the key timing aspects for impacts from Hurricane Idalia, as parts of Florida are under Hurricane Warnings, Storm Surge Warnings and Tropical Storm Warnings.

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Watches and warnings have been issued along Hurricane Idalia's path.
(FOX Weather)

 

What time will Hurricane Idalia make landfall?

Idalia is expected to continue to move at a faster north motion later on Wednesday.

Life-threatening winds and heavy rains will come in ahead of the storm, with current forecast models suggesting landfall around the Big Bend area Wednesday morning, between the 7 a.m. to. noon ET timeframe, the FOX Forecast Center said. The storm will then move closer to the coast of the Carolinas on Thursday.

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Here's a look at the earliest arrival time of Hurricane Idalia.
(FOX Weather)

 

When will life-threatening storm surge and surf arrive?

The combination of a catastrophic storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline, the FOX Forecast Center said. The surge will begin Wednesday as the hurricane approaches Florida's Gulf Coast, with peak times as the hurricane nears and then passes. 

Water could reach up to 15 feet above high tide levels in some locations during the peak.  

The NHC warns that the deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds, where the storm surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves.

Swells generated by Idalia will spread northward along the eastern U.S. Gulf Coast during the next day or two. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, the FOX Forecast Center said.

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A look at Hurricane Idalia's peak storm surge amounts.
(FOX Weather)

 

When will dangerous winds arrive with Hurricane Idalia?

Hurricane conditions are expected within the Hurricane Warning area in Florida ahead of landfall, the FOX Forecast Center said.

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Here's a look at Hurricane Idalia's winds through Thursday.
(FOX Weather)

 

Widespread tropical storm force winds are expected along Florida's west coast Wednesday, with hurricane force winds (greater than 74 mph) likely by mid-morning where Idalia approaches landfall – currently forecast to be in the Big Bend area.  

Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin on Wednesday in the warning area along the east coast of Florida and South Carolina. Tropical storm conditions are also possible along the southeast U.S. coast within the southern portions of the watch area by early Wednesday.

A look at Hurricane Idalia's winds through Thursday.
(FOX Weather)

 

When will the tornado risk increase for Florida and the Southeast?

The tornado threat holds through Wednesday across much of northern Florida and into southeastern Georgia, and coastal South and North Carolina.

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A look at the tornado threat in the Southeast on Tuesday.
(FOX Weather)

 

When will heavy rains arrive?

Portions of the west coast of Florida, the Florida Panhandle, southeast Georgia and the eastern Carolinas are expected to see 4-8 inches into Thursday. Isolated higher totals of 12 inches are possible, primarily near landfall in northern Florida.

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 into Wednesday, spreading into portions of the eastern Carolinas Wednesday into Thursday.

Here's a look at the expected rainfal through Friday evening.l
(FOX Weather)