Idalia has made landfall along the Gulf coast of Florida as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 miles per hour, according to the latest update from the National Weather Service.
According to the NWS National Hurricane Center, as of 8 a.m. on Wednesday, the eye of Hurricane Idalia is located near Tallahassee. Idalia is moving toward the north-northeast at nearly 18 mph, and the storm is expected to continue heading in the same direction through the morning as it heads toward southern Georgia later in the day.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from Idalia’s center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles. While Idalia will weaken now that its center is inland, the storm is expected to still be a hurricane as it moves across southern Georgia.
“Fortunately, overnight this hurricane shifted to the west and we escaped serious conditions…overnight,” stated Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods in a social media post on Wednesday morning. “However, it is important that we remain vigilant as additional impacts from the storm are still going to come.”
The National Weather Service has forecast 40 to 50 mph wind gusts in Marion County on Wednesday morning, as well as the potential threat of tornadoes.
A tornado watch is in effect in Marion County until 3 p.m. on Wednesday, which means that conditions are favorable for the development of thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes.
“Citizens, do not be fooled by the calmer conditions we have seen so far during the night. It is important to stay inside a safe structure, and even after the brunt of the weather has subsided, wait for emergency personnel to assess the impact to our county and begin recovery efforts. Your cooperation will allow us to work more quickly to ensure the roadways are safe for all of you,” added Sheriff Woods.
The city of Ocala suspended sanitation and recycling routes for Wednesday. They are expected to resume on Thursday, August 31.
On Monday, the school district announced that Marion County Public Schools would be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. The district also announced that a series of scheduled open houses were rescheduled.