As of 5:00 p.m. EST today, Aug. 29, Idalia is a Category 2 hurricane and is expected to intensify as it moves towards Florida’s Gulf Coast tonight. According to the National Hurricane Center, Idalia is projected to make landfall along the Big Bend area of Florida’s west coast as a major Category 3 hurricane overnight into early Wednesday, Aug. 30. All predictions indicate Hurricane Idalia will be an extremely dangerous storm, with tropical storm force winds extending up to 150 miles from the center of the storm.
The National Hurricane Center’s latest advisory issued at 5:00 p.m. EST today, Aug. 29, outlines the following key messages:
Florida
- Hundreds of miles of the Florida Gulf Coast from Gulf County to the south end of Sarasota County are under a Hurricane Warning. The storm’s outer bands are expected to arrive in the Tampa Bay area this afternoon but will become more frequent and intense by midnight. The worst weather conditions are predicted to occur between tonight and tomorrow afternoon.
- The most significant threat posed by Idalia is storm surge, with some areas north of Tampa Bay expected to see 8 to 12 feet of storm surge, with 4 to 9 feet in the Tampa Bay area and 3 to 7 feet south of Tampa Bay. These conditions are predicted to occur Wednesday morning.
- Heavy rainfall from 4 to 8 inches, with isolated amounts up to 12 inches where Idalia makes landfall, is forecast into tomorrow. Areas of flash flooding along portions of the state’s west coast and Panhandle, some of which could be locally significant, are expected.
- Damaging winds are expected, and residents located in areas under the Hurricane Warning should be prepared for power outages, downed trees and power lines, and other hazardous conditions. The threat of tornadoes forming to the east of the storm’s core as it moves across the state is highest tonight.
Georgia, Carolinas and Virginia
- Hurricane Idalia is expected to bring heavy rainfall and damaging hurricane-force winds throughout areas in eastern Georgia and southeastern South Carolina where Tropical Storm Warnings and Hurricane Watches are currently in effect.
- Tropical storm force winds are expected in areas around Charleston, South Carolina by late Wednesday. Areas along the coast may see storm surge flooding, as well as potential flash flooding and tornadoes.
- Up to 8 inches of rainfall and wind gusts of more than 40 mph are likely through eastern Georgia, the Carolinas and possibly Virginia later this week.
- Areas along the North Carolina coast are under a Tropical Storm Watch and could start to feel tropical storm force winds late Wednesday, with peak impacts likely occurring between late Wednesday to Thursday, Aug. 31. Cities such as Charlotte and Raleigh are likely to see a few inches of rain as Idalia moves along the Carolina coasts before gradually curving northeastward over the Atlantic Ocean.
Our Tampa Bay office remains closed through tomorrow Wednesday, August 30, at a minimum. Your safety is our top priority, and we encourage all office-based employees to work remotely from a safe location and not to return to the office until we communicate that it is safe to do so.
The Orlando office will remain open; however, we encourage employees based in this office to put safety first, use personal discretion and work remotely if needed.
If you work at a job site in the storm’s projected path, please continue to communicate with your supervisor to determine the operational status of your job site. For job site closures, we will assess conditions across impacted locations to determine if and when it is safe to resume onsite operations. We will ask essential personnel to evaluate projects and facilities before resuming regular onsite operations. Please continue to remain in close contact with your supervisor and communicate whether you need to stay home for safety reasons. As a reminder, be mindful of Bernhard’s fleet and ensure trucks are parked in a safe, secure area.
We will continue to communicate via email, text and through updates on our Disaster Information Site accessible at this link: http://dr.bernhard.com.
Contact your supervisor if you have any concerns or questions regarding schedules, and please continue to follow local advisories and guidance from local officials.
Stay safe!