Hurricane Idalia Is Strengthening and Will Make Landfall in Florida Wednesday

Hurricane Idalia is expected to rapidly intensify into a Category 3 by the time it makes landfall on Wednesday. Dangerous, life-threatening storm surge, hurricane-force winds and heavy rain are all expected along portions of the west coast of Florida and the Florida Panhandle beginning as early as later today, then peaking on Wednesday.

Idalia should move northward through the Gulf of Mexico and then turn northeast toward Florida into Tuesday night. Plenty of warm water and increasingly favorable upper-level winds will make rapid intensification possible. Idalia is forecast to be at Category 3 strength when it makes landfall Wednesday morning, in Florida's Big Bend region. After that, it will track near South Georgia and the coastal Carolinas through Thursday while weakening to a tropical storm.

A storm surge warning is in effect for Englewood to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay. This means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the shoreline within the specified area, generally within 36 hours.

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee noted in their Tuesday morning discussion, "Widespread deep inundation with storm surge flooding will be greatly accentuated by powerful battering waves. Locations may be uninhabitable for an extended period of time. Near-shore escape routes and secondary roads may be washed out or severely flooded."

We recognize the severe impact that current conditions are having on our customers, and we are committed to restoring service levels as quickly as possible. As a result of these weather issues, the ALG Client Service Team will send daily updates as we monitor the progress and track job level impact.