Hurricane Idalia Advances Towards Florida, Projected to Become Category 3 Before Landfall

Despite a slight “wobble” west, North Florida remains in Hurricane Idalia’s rapidly intensifying bulls-eye.

A satellite image shows Hurricane Idalia moving northward over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, at 12:40 p.m. ET on Aug. 29, 2023. CIRA/NOAA

The first squalls of Hurricane Idalia began hitting Florida early this afternoon (Aug. 29)—with people in Key West and along the southwest coast its initial recipients.

The intensifying storm continues on its path towards Florida’s Big Bend Gulf Coast and is expected to reach Category 3 before it makes landfall on Aug. 30, the National Hurricane Center’s 2 p.m. advisory reported.