Tropical Storm Idalia – 8/29/23 – Update #6
University of Florida officials are actively monitoring Hurricane Idalia. While much remains unknown about the storm’s exact path, here is what we know today:
Idalia strengthened into a hurricane overnight, as expected by forecasters at the National Hurricane Center. Forecasters believe the storm will “rapidly intensify” before making landfall along the coast as a Category 3 hurricane.
“The new forecast is similar to the previous one, and confidence is increasing in an extremely dangerous major hurricane making landfall Wednesday along the west coast or Big Bend region of Florida,” the 5 a.m. advisory stated.
A Hurricane Warning remains in effect from the middle of Longboat Key northward to Indian Pass. This includes Alachua County west of Interstate 75. Eastern Alachua County, which includes the city of Gainesville, is under a Tropical Storm Warning and a Hurricane Watch.
The National Weather Service Center in Jacksonville said the Gainesville area should prepare for hurricane-force winds ranging between 74 and 110 mph.
Conditions are expected to deteriorate in North Central Florida, which includes the Gainesville area, on Tuesday evening. Heavy rainfall will continue throughout Wednesday. Also, tornadoes will be possible Tuesday night and Wednesday. Tropical Storm conditions are expected in North Central Florida during the early morning hours of Wednesday. Hurricane force wind gusts will be possible after sunrise on Wednesday.
UF announced on Monday its Gainesville campus will close and classes will be canceled beginning at noon on Tuesday, Aug. 29, and continuing through Wednesday, Aug. 30. This includes all academic and student-related activities, including online classes and exams. Essential employees should check with their supervisors regarding scheduling.
UF Health and UF/IFAS personnel, and others at locations throughout the state should follow their local government’s guidance and check with their supervisors for information regarding reopening of their work locations.
Regularly check https://www.ufl.edu/ for updates. Any operational changes will be made through official UF channels, including the UF Alert Emergency Notification System.
For additional information, please visit National Hurricane Center.
Additional information:
UF campus closure, class cancellation
UF campus services and events updates
Here’s how to prepare for hurricane season
Pre-storm preparation for students in UF housing
UF/IFAS Disaster Preparation & Recovery
This story was posted at 6:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29.
