109  
WTUS82 KTBW 300951  
HLSTBW  
FLZ043-050-052-056-057-061-139-142-148-149-151-155-160-162-165-239-242-248-249-251-255-260-262-265-301800-  
 
HURRICANE IDALIA LOCAL STATEMENT ADVISORY NUMBER 15  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL AL102023  
551 AM EDT WED AUG 30 2023  
 
THIS PRODUCT COVERS WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA  
 
**CATASTROPHIC STORM SURGE AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS ARE NEARING THE  
FLORIDA BIG BEND REGION**  
 
NEW INFORMATION  
---------------  
 
* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:  
- NONE  
 
* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:  
- A STORM SURGE WARNING AND HURRICANE WARNING ARE IN EFFECT FOR  
COASTAL CITRUS, COASTAL HERNANDO, COASTAL HILLSBOROUGH, COASTAL  
LEVY, COASTAL MANATEE, COASTAL PASCO, INLAND CITRUS, AND  
PINELLAS  
- A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR INLAND HERNANDO, INLAND  
HILLSBOROUGH, INLAND LEVY, INLAND MANATEE, INLAND PASCO, AND  
SUMTER  
- A STORM SURGE WARNING AND TROPICAL STORM WARNING ARE IN EFFECT  
FOR COASTAL SARASOTA  
- A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND STORM SURGE WATCH ARE IN EFFECT  
FOR COASTAL CHARLOTTE AND COASTAL LEE  
- A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR DESOTO, HARDEE,  
INLAND CHARLOTTE, INLAND LEE, INLAND SARASOTA, AND POLK  
 
* STORM INFORMATION:  
- ABOUT 60 MILES WEST OF CEDAR KEY FL OR ABOUT 130 MILES  
NORTHWEST OF MOUTH OF TAMPA BAY FL  
- 29.1N 84.1W  
- STORM INTENSITY 130 MPH  
- MOVEMENT NORTH-NORTHEAST OR 25 DEGREES AT 18 MPH  
 
SITUATION OVERVIEW  
------------------  
 
HURRICANE IDALIA CONTINUES TO INTENSIFY AS IT MOVES NORTH TO  
NORTHEAST ACROSS THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO TODAY. CATASTROPHIC STORM  
SURGE WILL ACCOMPANY THE STORM AS IT MAKES LANDFALL. WATCHES AND  
WARNINGS REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AND  
THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.  
 
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE PRIMARY HAZARDS OF CONCERN WITH IDALIA:  
 
* STORM SURGE - AREAS ACROSS THE NORTHERN NATURE COAST COULD SEE  
CATASTROPHIC LEVELS OF STORM SURGE, WITH LIFE-THREATENING SURGE ALSO  
POSSIBLE ACROSS WEST-CENTRAL FLORIDA. THE MAIN PERIOD OF SURGE LOOKS  
TO OCCUR THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY. STORM SURGE INUNDATION COULD REACH  
12 TO 16 FEET ALONG THE LEVY COUNTY COASTLINE, 7 TO 11 ACROSS THE  
CITRUS COUNTY COASTLINE, 6 TO 9 FEET ALONG THE HERNANDO AND PASCO  
COUNTY COASTLINES, 4 TO 6 FEET FOR THE PINELLAS, HILLSBOROUGH, AND  
MANATEE COUNTY COASTLINES, 3 TO 5 FEET ALONG THE SARASOTA COUNTY  
COAST, AND 2 TO 4 FEET ALONG CHARLOTTE AND LEE COUNTIES.  
 
* WIND - WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE, WITH HURRICANE FORCE WINDS  
POSSIBLE ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA, ESPECIALLY NEAR THE COAST NORTH OF  
TAMPA BAY. IDALIA HAS INTENSIFIED INTO A MAJOR HURRICANE. TROPICAL  
STORM FORCE WINDS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN ZONES. DOWNED  
TREES AND POWERLINES, WITH PROLONGED POWER OUTAGES WILL BE POSSIBLE.  
 
* RAINFALL - RAIN BANDS FROM IDALIA WILL CONTINUE TO LIFT OVER THE  
AREA TODAY. A SLIGHT TO MODERATE RISK FOR FLOODING IS POSSIBLE, MAINLY  
ALONG THE COAST AND ACROSS THE NORTHERN ZONES, CLOSER TO THE CENTER OF  
THE STORM. RAINFALL TOTALS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER  
AMOUNTS UP TO 12 INCHES IS POSSIBLE.  
 
POTENTIAL IMPACTS  
-----------------  
 
* SURGE:  
POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE MAIN SURGE EVENT ARE NOW UNFOLDING ACROSS  
WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. REMAIN WELL AWAY FROM LIFE-THREATENING  
SURGE HAVING POSSIBLE CATASTROPHIC IMPACTS. IF  
REALIZED, THESE IMPACTS INCLUDE:  
- WIDESPREAD DEEP INUNDATION, WITH STORM SURGE FLOODING GREATLY  
ACCENTUATED BY POWERFUL BATTERING WAVES. STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO  
BUILDINGS, WITH MANY WASHING AWAY. DAMAGE GREATLY COMPOUNDED  
FROM CONSIDERABLE FLOATING DEBRIS. LOCATIONS MAY BE  
UNINHABITABLE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD.  
- NEAR-SHORE ESCAPE ROUTES AND SECONDARY ROADS WASHED OUT OR  
SEVERELY FLOODED. FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEMS AND BARRIERS MAY BECOME  
STRESSED.  
- EXTREME BEACH EROSION. NEW SHORELINE CUTS POSSIBLE.  
- MASSIVE DAMAGE TO MARINAS, DOCKS, BOARDWALKS, AND PIERS.  
NUMEROUS SMALL CRAFT BROKEN AWAY FROM MOORINGS WITH MANY LIFTED  
ONSHORE AND STRANDED.  
 
* WIND:  
POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE MAIN WIND EVENT ARE NOW UNFOLDING ACROSS  
WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. REMAIN WELL SHELTERED FROM  
LIFE-THREATENING WIND HAVING POSSIBLEEXTENSIVE  
IMPACTS. IF REALIZED, THESE IMPACTS INCLUDE:  
- CONSIDERABLE ROOF DAMAGE TO STURDY BUILDINGS, WITH SOME HAVING  
WINDOW, DOOR, AND GARAGE DOOR FAILURES LEADING TO STRUCTURAL  
DAMAGE. MOBILE HOMES SEVERELY DAMAGED, WITH SOME DESTROYED.  
DAMAGE ACCENTUATED BY AIRBORNE PROJECTILES. LOCATIONS MAY BE  
UNINHABITABLE FOR WEEKS.  
- MANY LARGE TREES SNAPPED OR UPROOTED ALONG WITH FENCES AND  
ROADWAY SIGNS BLOWN OVER.  
- SOME ROADS IMPASSABLE FROM LARGE DEBRIS, AND MORE WITHIN URBAN  
OR HEAVILY WOODED PLACES. SEVERAL BRIDGES, CAUSEWAYS, AND  
ACCESS ROUTES IMPASSABLE.  
- LARGE AREAS WITH POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS OUTAGES.  
 
* FLOODING RAIN:  
POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE FLOODING RAIN ARE STILL UNFOLDING ACROSS  
WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. REMAIN WELL GUARDED AGAINST DANGEROUS  
FLOOD WATERS HAVING POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS.  
IF REALIZED, THESE IMPACTS INCLUDE:  
- MODERATE RAINFALL FLOODING MAY PROMPT SEVERAL EVACUATIONS AND  
RESCUES.  
- RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES MAY QUICKLY BECOME SWOLLEN WITH SWIFTER  
CURRENTS AND OVERSPILL THEIR BANKS IN A FEW PLACES, ESPECIALLY  
IN USUALLY VULNERABLE SPOTS. SMALL STREAMS, CREEKS, CANALS, AND  
DITCHES OVERFLOW.  
- FLOOD WATERS CAN ENTER SOME STRUCTURES OR WEAKEN FOUNDATIONS.  
SEVERAL PLACES MAY EXPERIENCE EXPANDED AREAS OF RAPID  
INUNDATION AT UNDERPASSES, LOW-LYING SPOTS, AND POOR DRAINAGE  
AREAS. SOME STREETS AND PARKING LOTS TAKE ON MOVING WATER AS  
STORM DRAINS AND RETENTION PONDS OVERFLOW. DRIVING CONDITIONS  
BECOME HAZARDOUS. SOME ROAD AND BRIDGE CLOSURES.  
 
* TORNADOES:  
POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM TORNADOES ARE STILL UNFOLDING ACROSS WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.  
REMAIN WELL BRACED AGAINST A DANGEROUS TORNADO  
EVENT HAVING POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS. IF  
REALIZED, THESE IMPACTS INCLUDE:  
- THE OCCURRENCE OF SCATTERED TORNADOES CAN HINDER THE EXECUTION  
OF EMERGENCY PLANS DURING TROPICAL EVENTS.  
- SEVERAL PLACES MAY EXPERIENCE TORNADO DAMAGE WITH A FEW SPOTS  
OF CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE, POWER LOSS, AND COMMUNICATIONS FAILURES.  
- LOCATIONS COULD REALIZE ROOFS TORN OFF FRAME HOUSES, MOBILE  
HOMES DEMOLISHED, BOXCARS OVERTURNED, LARGE TREES SNAPPED OR  
UPROOTED, VEHICLES TUMBLED, AND BOATS TOSSED ABOUT. DANGEROUS  
PROJECTILES CAN ADD TO THE TOLL.  
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS  
----------------------------------  
 
* EVACUATIONS:  
 
IMMINENT/ONGOING PHASE - DO NOT ENTER EVACUATED AREAS UNTIL OFFICIALS  
HAVE GIVEN THE ALL CLEAR TO RETURN.  
 
* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:  
 
DO NOT BE A THRILL SEEKER OR RISK YOUR LIFE FOR SENSELESS PHOTOS OR  
VIDEOS.  
 
IF YOU ARE PRONE TO FLOODING OR IN AN AREA UNDER A STORM SURGE WATCH  
OR WARNING, BE PREPARED FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF A QUICK AND DRAMATIC  
RISE IN WATER LEVELS.  
 
IF A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA, QUICKLY MOVE TO THE  
SAFEST PLACE WITHIN YOUR SHELTER. PROTECT YOUR HEAD AND BODY.  
 
* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:  
- FOR INFORMATION ON APPROPRIATE PREPARATIONS SEE READY.GOV  
- FOR INFORMATION ON CREATING AN EMERGENCY PLAN SEE GETAGAMEPLAN.ORG  
- FOR ADDITIONAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION SEE REDCROSS.ORG  
 
NEXT UPDATE  
-----------  
 
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER  
SERVICE IN TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL AROUND 12 PM EDT, OR SOONER IF  
CONDITIONS WARRANT.  
 

 
 
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