Tropical Storm Idalia – 8/29/23 – Update #7
University of Florida officials are actively monitoring Hurricane Idalia. While much remains unknown about the storm’s exact path, here is what we know thus far:
A Hurricane Warning was issued for Alachua County, which includes Gainesville, by the National Hurricane Center during the 11 a.m. advisory. This means forecasters expect hurricane-force winds somewhere within the areas under a warning within the next 36 hours.
Idalia has continued to strengthen and is expected to make landfall somewhere along North Florida’s Gulf Coast as a “devastating major hurricane.” The National Weather Service in Jacksonville said during the 1:30 p.m. briefing that Alachua County could experience hurricane-force winds of up to a Category 2 storm.
Also, a Flood Watch has been issued for Alachua County. Forecasters at the National Weather Service in Jacksonville said 3 to 6 inches of rain can be expected in the area, with higher amounts locally. An evacuation order has been issued for those who live in mobile or manufactured homes, or flood-prone areas in Alachua County.
Conditions are expected to deteriorate in North Central Florida, which includes the Gainesville area, on Tuesday evening. The core of the storm is expected to approach North Central Florida sometime Wednesday between midnight and 6 a.m. Heavy rainfall will continue throughout Wednesday. Also, tornadoes will be possible Tuesday night and Wednesday.
UF’s campus closed on Tuesday, Aug. 29 at noon and will remain closed on Wednesday, Aug. 30. Classes are also canceled during that time. This extends to 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.
The Southwest Recreation Center will open as a shelter at 6 p.m. Tuesday for UF students, faculty and staff, and their families. UF affiliates must bring their Gator 1 card for identification.
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 12:10 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29. It was updated at 1:45 p.m. to reflect information discussed during the 1:30 p.m. briefing from the National Service Center in Jacksonville.
