Forecasts: Tropical Storm Idalia forms in Gulf on possible track to US

MIAMI — Tropical Storm Idalia formed Sunday in the Gulf of Mexico on a potential track to come ashore as a hurricane in the southern U.S., the National Hurricane Center said.

At 5 p.m. Eastern Sunday, the storm was about 95 miles east-southeast of Cozumel, Mexico, moving northeast at 3 mph, with highest sustained winds of 40 mph, forecasters said. Hurricane winds hit 74 mph and above.

Forecasters said they expected Idalia to become a hurricane on Tuesday in the Gulf of Mexico and then curve northeast toward the west coast of Florida. Idalia could approach Florida with winds of up to 100 mph, according to the latest forecasts Sunday from the Hurricane Center. That would make it a Category 2 hurricane.

At a Sunday briefing, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis noted that much uncertainty remains in the forecast.

“This thing hasn’t even gotten to Cuba yet, and the water in the Gulf is very, very warm and so that will provide some fuel for this thing to pick up some more speed,” DeSantis said.

Large parts of the western coast of Florida are at risk of seawater surging onto land and flooding communities when a tropical storm or hurricane approaches. That part of Florida is very vulnerable to storm surges, Jamie Rhome, deputy director of the National Hurricane

Center, said Sunday.

“So it will not take a strong system or a direct hit to produce significant storm surge,” he said. “If you’re anywhere along the Florida Peninsula, western Florida Peninsula, so let’s say from about Fort Myers northward to the Panhandle, you’ve really got to be paying attention.”

At the Bridge Tender Inn in Bradenton Beach, a large tent covering the tiki bar area where musicians play might have to be taken down in preparation for Idalia, assistant manager Shannon Dunnan said Sunday.

“If we get a big storm that hits, it would probably rip that tent in half,” she said.

But at this point, plans are for the establishment to stay open, Dunnan said.

The storm was not expected to menace southwest Florida, where deadly Hurricane Ian hit last year.

Mexico’s National Meteorological Service on Sunday warned of intense to torrential rains showering the

Yucatan Peninsula, with winds as fast as 55 mph.

It said the storm could cause anything from powerful waves to flooding in southern Mexico.

Florida emergency officials on Sunday urged residents to keep their vehicle gas tanks at least half full in case they need to evacuate.

“This will ensure you can evacuate tens of miles inland to a safe location should the need arise,” the Florida Division of Emergency Management said on social media.