139  
WTUS82 KKEY 292148  
HLSKEY  
FLZ078-300600-  
 
HURRICANE IDALIA LOCAL STATEMENT ADVISORY NUMBER 13  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KEY WEST FL AL102023  
548 PM EDT TUE AUG 29 2023  
 
THIS PRODUCT COVERS THE FLORIDA KEYS  
 
**TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE LOWER KEYS**  
 
NEW INFORMATION  
---------------  
 
* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:  
- NONE  
 
* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:  
- A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MONROE LOWER KEYS  
 
* STORM INFORMATION:  
- ABOUT 220 MILES WEST-NORTHWEST OF KEY WEST FL  
- 26.1N 84.8W  
- STORM INTENSITY 100 MPH  
- MOVEMENT NORTH OR 360 DEGREES AT 16 MPH  
 
SITUATION OVERVIEW  
------------------  
 
HURRICANE IDALIA CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN IN THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF  
MEXICO, NOW A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE WITH AN EYE-LIKE FEATURE PEAKING  
OUT AT TIMES. THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES TO FLORIDA KEYS WATCHES AND  
WARNINGS, WITH A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINING IN EFFECT FOR THE DRY  
TORTUGAS, AND A TROPICAL STORM WATCH FOR THE LOWER KEYS. IDALIA WILL  
CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE TO THE NORTH THIS EVENING, THEN SLOWLY TURN TO  
THE NORTH TO NORTHEAST OVERNIGHT AND INTO WEDNESDAY. CONFIDENCE  
CONTINUES TO INCREASE THAT THE STORM WILL MAKE LANDFALL ON WEDNESDAY  
MORNING AS A MAJOR HURRICANE IN THE BIG BEND REGION OF THE FLORIDA  
PENINSULA. A FEW ADDITIONAL SQUALLS MAY PUSH THROUGH THE FLORIDA KEYS  
THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS, WITH TROPICAL- STORM FORCE WIND GUSTS  
EXPECTED IN ANY STRONGER SQUALL. THE PERSISTENT SOUTHERLY WINDS, ALONG  
WITH KING TIDES, MAY CONTINUE TO RESULT IN COASTAL FLOODING OF UP TO  
AROUND 2 FEET ABOVE NORMAL HIGH TIDES. THIS WAS OBSERVED AT THIS  
MORNING'S HIGH TIDE IN THE LOWER KEYS, AND WILL LIKELY OCCUR AGAIN AT  
AROUND THE TIME OF HIGH TIDE WEDNESDAY MORNING. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL OF  
AROUND 1 INCH, WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS, AND A FEW TORNADOES CANNOT  
BE RULED OUT. CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO GRADUALLY IMPROVE LATE  
TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY, ALTHOUGH STRONG SOUTHERLY BREEZES WILL PERSIST  
THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY ON WEDNESDAY.  
 
NO EVACUATIONS HAVE BEEN ORDERED. MONROE COUNTY AND CITY OF KEY WEST  
REPORT FACILITIES AND SERVICESREMAIN OPEN. MEDICAL SERVICES AND THE  
KEY WEST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT REMAIN OPEN. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN  
MANY CANCELLED FLIGHTS TODAY. FOR FURTHER DETAILS GO TO  
HTTP://MONORECOUNTY- FL.GOV/1236/TS- IDALIA.  
 
POTENTIAL IMPACTS  
-----------------  
 
* WIND:  
PREPARE FOR HAZARDOUS WIND HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS ACROSS THE  
FLORIDA KEYS. POTENTIAL IMPACTS IN THIS AREA INCLUDE:  
- MINOR DAMAGE TO PORCHES, AWNINGS, CARPORTS, SHEDS, AND  
UNANCHORED MOBILE HOMES. UNSECURED LIGHTWEIGHT OBJECTS BLOWN  
ABOUT.  
- A FEW ROADS IMPASSABLE FROM DEBRIS, PARTICULARLY WITHIN URBAN  
OR HEAVILY WOODED PLACES. HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS ON  
BRIDGES AND OTHER ELEVATED ROADWAYS.  
- ISOLATED POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS OUTAGES.  
 
* SURGE:  
PREPARE FOR LOCALLY HAZARDOUS SURGE HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS  
ACROSS THE FLORIDA KEYS. POTENTIAL IMPACTS IN THIS AREA INCLUDE:  
- LOCALIZED INUNDATION WITH STORM SURGE FLOODING MAINLY ALONG  
IMMEDIATE SHORELINES AND IN LOW-LYING SPOTS, OR IN AREAS  
FARTHER INLAND NEAR WHERE HIGHER SURGE WATERS MOVE ASHORE.  
- SECTIONS OF ROADS AND PARKING LOTS INUNDATED BY SURGE WATER.  
DRIVING CONDITIONS DANGEROUS IN PLACES WHERE SURGE WATER COVERS  
THE ROAD.  
- MODERATE BEACH EROSION.  
- MINOR DAMAGE TO MARINAS, DOCKS, BOARDWALKS, AND PIERS. A FEW  
SMALL CRAFT BROKEN AWAY FROM MOORINGS.  
 
ELSEWHERE ACROSS THE FLORIDA KEYS, LITTLE TO NO IMPACT IS ANTICIPATED.  
 
* FLOODING RAIN:  
PREPARE FOR LOCALLY HAZARDOUS RAINFALL FLOODING HAVING POSSIBLE  
LIMITED IMPACTS ACROSS THE FLORIDA KEYS. POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE:  
- FLOOD WATERS CAN ENTER A FEW STRUCTURES, ESPECIALLY IN USUALLY  
VULNERABLE SPOTS. A FEW PLACES WHERE RAPID PONDING OF WATER  
OCCURS AT UNDERPASSES, LOW-LYING SPOTS, AND POOR DRAINAGE  
AREAS. SEVERAL STORM DRAINS AND RETENTION PONDS BECOME  
NEAR-FULL AND BEGIN TO OVERFLOW. SOME BRIEF ROAD AND BRIDGE  
CLOSURES.  
 
* TORNADOES:  
PREPARE FOR A TORNADO EVENT HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS ACROSS  
THE FLORIDA KEYS. POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE:  
- THE OCCURRENCE OF ISOLATED TORNADOES CAN HINDER THE EXECUTION  
OF EMERGENCY PLANS DURING TROPICAL EVENTS.  
- A FEW PLACES MAY EXPERIENCE TORNADO DAMAGE, ALONG WITH POWER  
AND COMMUNICATIONS DISRUPTIONS.  
- LOCATIONS COULD REALIZE ROOFS PEELED OFF BUILDINGS, MOBILE HOMES  
PUSHED OFF FOUNDATIONS OR OVERTURNED, LARGE TREE TOPS AND  
BRANCHES SNAPPED OFF, SHALLOW-ROOTED TREES KNOCKED OVER, MOVING  
VEHICLES BLOWN OFF ROADS, AND SMALL BOATS PULLED FROM MOORINGS.  
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS  
----------------------------------  
 
* EVACUATIONS:  
IF YOU ARE EXCEPTIONALLY VULNERABLE TO WIND OR WATER HAZARDS FROM  
TROPICAL SYSTEMS, CONSIDER VOLUNTARY EVACUATION, ESPECIALLY IF BEING  
OFFICIALLY RECOMMENDED. RELOCATE TO A SAFE DESTINATION.  
 
* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:  
WHEN MAKING SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS DECISIONS, DO NOT FOCUS ON THE  
EXACT FORECAST TRACK SINCE HAZARDS SUCH AS FLOODING RAIN, DAMAGING WIND  
GUSTS, STORM SURGE, AND TORNADOES EXTEND WELL AWAY FROM THE CENTER OF  
THE STORM.  
 
CLOSELY MONITOR WEATHER.GOV, NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND LOCAL NEWS  
OUTLETS FOR OFFICIAL STORM INFORMATION. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE CHANGES  
TO THE FORECAST.  
 
THERE IS A THREAT FROM TORNADOES WITH THIS STORM. HAVE MULTIPLE WAYS  
TO RECEIVE TORNADO WARNINGS. BE READY TO SHELTER QUICKLY.  
 
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:  
- FOR MONROE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT INFORMATION, SEE  
MONROECOUNTYEM.COM/JIC  
- FOR INFORMATION ON APPROPRIATE PREPARATIONS SEE READY.GOV  
- FOR ADDITIONAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION SEE REDCROSS.ORG  
- FOR FLORIDA DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT INFORMATION, SEE  
FLORIDADISASTER.ORG  
 
NEXT UPDATE  
-----------  
 
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER  
SERVICE IN KEY WEST FL AROUND 12 AM EDT, OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS  
WARRANT.  
 

 
 
BT  
 
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