UPDATE #2: New Florida Watches and Warnings

1130am Update

As Idalia approaches and strengthens, there are new watches and warnings for portions of Florida.

A hurricane warning is now in effect from the middle of Longboat Key northward to the Ochlockonee River.  This includes the Tampa Bay region.

There is now a storm surge warning from Englewood northward to the Ochlockonee River.  Storm surge amounts from 2 to 4 feet all the way to 7 to 11 feet are possible within the warning area.

A tropical storm warning is now in effect from Chokoloskee northward to the middle of Longboat Key.  This includes the Naples area and Fort Myers.

There is also a tropical storm watch for the Atlantic coast, from Sebastian Inlet northward to Altamaha Sound, Georgia.

The entire Gulf coast from Chokoloskee northward to Indian Pass in the Florida panhandle is now under watches or warnings.  There is a tropical storm watch already in effect for the Lower Keys, from Key West to the Seven Mile Bridge, as well as a tropical storm warning for Dry Tortugas.

At 11 am Monday, Idalia was still a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 miles per hour, but it is expected to reach hurricane strength by Monday evening.  Idalia was located near 20.8 North, 85.2 West, about 305 miles south-southwest of Dry Tortugas late Monday morning.  At that time, Idalia was moving north at 8 miles per hour.  The forecast calls for Idalia to become a major hurricane before making landfall in the hurricane warning area late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.