Idalia has strengthened into a Category 1 Hurricane, and continues to take aim at Florida

As Idalia continues to intensify, the storm is now officially a hurricane, and is targeting Florida with effects of storm to be felt as early as today!

As we continue to monitor Idalia, the storm continues to intensify and officially became a hurricane in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

In the latest update from the National Hurricane Center, Idalia is expected to rapidly intensify into an extremely dangerous major hurricane before making landfall in the Big Bend area of the state on Wednesday.

Currently Idalia is spinning northwest of Cuba with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and is moving north towards Florida at 14 mph.

The National Hurricane Center are urging residents to prepare now, as life-threatening storm surge and dangerous winds are becoming increasingly likely for large portions of the Florida Gulf Coast. Residents in these areas should follow advice today from local officials.

Destructive winds will occur along the Florida Gulf Coast's Big Bend Region with huge impacts in Levy and Dixie counties. Winds over 100 mph are possible in these areas on Wednesday morning.

Here in Central Florida, if the current track of Idalia continues, the worst of the weather will stay to the west of Central Florida.

Gusty squalls will begin to enter the area this afternoon, increasing in frequency and intensity into tonight. It is expected that the worst effects of Idalia will be felt for the majority of Central Florida late Tuesday and through the day on Wednesday.

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