[NautiNurse]

Idalia rapidly itensifies into Category 3 Major Hurricane...

Catastrophic Storm Surge and Destructive Winds Expected In the FL
Big Bend Region This Morning At Landfall...

200 AM EDT Update
-------------------------------
About 100 MI SW of Cedar Key FL
About 175 MI S of Tahallassee FL
Max Sustained Winds...120 MPH
Movement...N at 15 MPH
Minimum Pressure...945 MB

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the storm center.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles from the center.

TORNADOES: A few tornadoes are possible overnight from the coast of
west-central Florida northward into the Florida Big Bend region.
The tornado risk will shift into southeast Georgia and the coastal
Carolinas later today.

On/Off Hurricane List Mash Here-->

[jeffers]

Latest discussion (11PM) has wind peaking at or just after landfall...115 kt.

FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT 30/0300Z 27.7N 84.5W 95 KT 110 MPH
12H 30/1200Z 30.0N 83.9W 115 KT 130 MPH...ON COAST
24H 31/0000Z 32.3N 81.3W 70 KT 80 MPH...INLAND
36H 31/1200Z 33.5N 78.6W 50 KT 60 MPH...OVER WATER
48H 01/0000Z 33.8N 75.0W 50 KT 60 MPH
60H 01/1200Z 33.5N 72.5W 50 KT 60 MPH
72H 02/0000Z 32.9N 71.0W 45 KT 50 MPH
96H 03/0000Z 32.0N 69.4W 45 KT 50 MPH
120H 04/0000Z 31.0N 68.4W 45 KT 50 MPH

[MtnClimber]

I am in Northern Polk County. A tornado warning was just issued. A tornado was spotted west of Sebring which would put it heading in my direction. Lots of rain when the bands pass across. Wind is not too bad with sustained only about 20 mph and gusts to maybe 40 mph. There are lots of ducks and water birds flying over the lake and the purple martins are flying around by the edge of the water like they are playing in the wind. Prayers up for people in the Florida Panhandle.