(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Hurricane Idalia update: Landfall near Keaton Beach, FL, Hurricane watch for Georgia and Carolinas [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2023-08-30 Hurricane Idalia packing 130 mph winds made landfall around 8:00 a.m. EDT near Keaton Beach, FL. Conditions were ripe for rapid intensification over the warm waters of and the moist atmosphere over the Gulf of Mexico. Besides strong winds and heavy rainfall, storm surge is estimated to be 12-16 feet along a wide section of the coastal area around the “big bend” — from Cedar Key to Fish Creek. Hopefully, folks along the Gulf coast have evacuated or made appropriate preparations. Hurricane Idalia is expected to remain strong as it travels over Georgia and the Carolinas, with winds over 70 mph and dumping copious amounts of rainfall along a wide swath. Residents need to be prepared for wind damage, flash floods and power outages. Here is some more info on the coming storm — FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS from www.nhc.noaa.gov/... at Aug 30, 5:00 a.m. EDT. INIT 30/0900Z 29.1N 84.1W 115 KT 130 MPH 12H 30/1800Z 31.0N 82.7W 85 KT 100 MPH...INLAND (that’s at 2:00 p.m. EDT, well inland) 24H 31/0600Z 33.1N 79.6W 60 KT 70 MPH...INLAND 36H 31/1800Z 33.8N 76.1W 50 KT 60 MPH...OVER WATER 48H 01/0600Z 33.3N 72.7W 50 KT 60 MPH 60H 01/1800Z 32.4N 70.7W 45 KT 50 MPH 72H 02/0600Z 31.5N 69.5W 45 KT 50 MPH 96H 03/0600Z 30.7N 68.0W 45 KT 50 MPH 120H 04/0600Z 30.5N 66.0W 45 KT 50 MPH Estimated rainfall amounts have been rising; 6-10 inches of rain over parts of Georgia and the Carolinas. Storm surge from 12-16 feet will be devastating and life-threatening in many areas. Rising sea levels and the Supermoon on Wednesday when the moon is closest to earth, will only make things worse. A closeup of the areas with the highest storm surge — from Cedar Key to Steinhatchee to Fish Creek. A currently active AF Hurricane Hunter aircraft measured wind speeds of 121 knots (139 mph) in the NE eyewall. Why did Hurricane Idalia intensify so rapidly over the past 24 hours? It was all predicted by hurricane models, based on the extra warm waters (31C) in its path and low wind shear. Sea Surface Temperature (SST) have been alarmingly high across the globe, since the oceans absorb most of the heat caused by Global Warming. Let’s make sure our friends and families in the path of Hurricane Idalia have made preparations. Please feel free to provide info on conditions in your neighborhood and any tips for those still struggling to make preparations. Let’s also keep educating the public about climate change and global warming, that it is caused by human activity and increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, most of it contributed by fossils fuels, and what we are seeing this year in terms of heat waves, wildfires, storms, floods and droughts is a preview of what lies ahead. Also, let’s keep working to neutralize the massive disinformation campaign about climate change and against renewal energy launched by the republican party and their paymasters — the fossil fuel companies, the billionaire megalomaniac club and various state actors. And let’s keep emphasizing that if republicans take control of Washington, then we can pretty much kiss Earth and Democracy goodbye, since these monsters have plans ready to undo the progress we have made so far on renewal energy and energy efficiency and to turn government into a servant of the fossil fuel industry. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/8/30/2190461/-Hurricane-Idalia-update-Now-Cat-4-landfall-soon-Hurricane-watch-for-Georgia-and-Carolinas Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/