Thanks for keeping the thread, all the hurricane threads, going. I’m probably out of harms way, but I have kin in Florida.
Will be keeping a close eye on Idalia, recalling how Charley in 2004 decided to take an eastward jog in late stages of approach to land. This one is supposed to have only moderate impacts around Tampa Bay but any slight shift east in the track would change that to major impacts.
As the storm is in a formative stage off northwest Cuba now, it needs to be watched very closely to make sure it really is going to head as far north as the cone suggests (even the eastern margin of the cone would be a very bad storm for Tampa Bay region).
Cedar Key FL is probably “ground zero” on current guidance and landfall most likely around daybreak Wednesday.