Hurricane Idalia now a dangerous Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 130 mph

In the 5 am update from the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Idalia is now officially a Major Category 4 Storm as it churns towards Florida.

As Hurricane Idalia churns towards Florida, the National Hurricane Center have released the 5 am advisory and the latest from this huge storm is that it is now officially a Major Category 4 Storm, and as the storm has still to make landfall, it could become even stronger before the eye comes ashore in the Gulf Coast.

The storm is going to make landfall along the coast of Florida's Big Bend region, where catastrophic storm surge and destructive winds are expected.

The hurricane is currently 60 miles west of Cedar Key and about 90 miles south of Tallahassee, with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph.

Here is the full advisory from the National Hurricane Center:

Catastrophic impacts from storm surge inundation of 12 to 16 feet above ground level and destructive waves are expected somewhere between the Wakulla/Jefferson County line and Yankeetown, Florida. Life-threatening storm surge inundation is likely elsewhere along portions of the Florida Gulf Coast where a Storm Surge Warning is in effect. Residents in these areas should follow any advice given by local officials.

Destructive life-threatening winds will occur where the core of Idalia moves onshore in the Big Bend region of Florida, with hurricane conditions expected elsewhere in portions of the Hurricane Warning area along the Florida Gulf Coast. Strong winds will also spread inland across portions of northern Florida and southern Georgia near the track of the center of Idalia where Hurricane Warnings are in effect. Residents in these areas should be prepared for long-duration power outages. Damaging hurricane-force winds are likely in portions of eastern Georgia and southeastern South Carolina where Hurricane Warnings are now in effect.

Areas of flash, urban, and moderate river flooding, with considerable impacts, are expected from the Florida Big Ben through, central Georgia and South Carolina, through eastern North Carolina into Thursday

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