The National Hurricane Center said Idalia officially became a hurricane early Tuesday morning and is now recording top sustained winds of 90 mph.
The hurricane emerged out of the Yucatan Channel and now is in the southern Gulf of Mexico with its eye set on Florida's Gulf Coast. A hurricane warning is in effect for Florida's Gulf Coast from Longboat Key northward to Indian Pass. Tropical storm warnings were issued in the Fort Myers area due to Idalia's outer bands.
The Atlantic Coast isn't immune to the storm's impacts as tropical storm warnings are in place from Sebastian Inlet, Florida, to South Santee River, South Carolina, as it is expected to remain a powerful storm for some time after making landfall.
Before striking land, Idalia is expected to intensify rapidly and come ashore as a major hurricane.
