re: Hurricane/Tropical Storm Idalia Discussion Thread

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
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At 200 AM EDT (0600 UTC), the center of Hurricane Idalia was located
near latitude 28.3 North, longitude 84.5 West. Idalia is moving
toward the north near 15 mph (24 km/h). A northward to
north-northeastward motion is expected through morning, with
Idalia's center forecast to reach the Big Bend coast of Florida this
morning. After landfall, Idalia is forecast to turn toward the
northeast and east-northeast, moving near or along the coasts of
Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina late today and Thursday.

Hurricane Hunter aircraft data indicate that maximum sustained winds
have increased to near 120 mph (195 km/h) with higher gusts. Idalia
is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.
Additional strengthening is forecast, and Idalia is forecast to
become a category 4 hurricane before it reaches the Big Bend coast
of Florida this morning. Idalia is likely to still be a hurricane
while moving across southern Georgia, and possibly when it reaches
the coast of Georgia or southern South Carolina late today.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the
center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles
(260 km). NOAA buoy 42036 recently reported sustained winds of 54
mph (87 km/h) and a gust to 69 mph (111 km/h) in the northern
rainbands of Idalia. Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (KSRQ)
recently reported sustained winds of 35 mph (56 km/h) with a gust to
67 mph (108 km/h).

The estimated minimum central pressure based on Hurricane Hunter
aircraft observations is 945 mb (27.91 inches).