Hurricane Idalia Strengthens to a Monster Category 4 Hurricane Before Making Landfall

Hurricane Idalia had gained even more strength overnight than forecasters had initially predicted and had been classified as a Category 4 hurricane with winds speeds of 130 mph. By 7am, Hurricane Idalia had slightly weakened to a Category 3 hurricane once again, still classified as a major hurricane, carrying winds of 125 mph.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the eye of Hurricane Idalia was located about 90 miles south of Tallahassee around 5 am, and is continuing to move northeast. After making landfall in Florida, the storm will continue it's path northeast, dangerous winds, heavy rain, and coastal flooding to southeastern Georgia and the eastern Carolinas through Thursday.

Once-in-a-Lifetime Strength

Forecasters are warning that Hurricane Idalia will be extremely dangerous and bring once-in-a-lifetime strength when it makes landfall around 8am ET Wednesday morning.

The time to prepare is over as Idalia is almost ready to strike land just south of Perry, Florida. Up to 16 feet of storm surge is likely in some areas and dangerous winds are expected to bring catastrophic damage. Evacuations had been ordered for 30 Florida counties as monster walls of water also threaten not just the coast, but further inland as well.