Photo: Joe Raedle / Getty Images News / Getty Images
(Tallahassee, FL) -- Idalia could be the biggest hurricane to ever hit Tallahassee.
The National Weather Service has issued a hurricane warning for the Florida capital, which has never seen sustained hurricane-force winds in the modern era.
Hurricane Michael in 2018 brought wind gusts of 71 miles per hour to Tallahassee, just under Category 1 strength. Some forecasters say Idalia could reach Category 4 strength by the time it makes landfall this morning, and Tallahassee, which is about 40 miles from the coast, could see winds of 74 miles per hour or higher.
The National Weather Service in Tallahassee says the Big Bend coast could see up to 16 feet of storm surge. This is catastrophic and life-threatening.
- Wakulla/Jefferson County Line to Yankeetown: 12 to 16 feet
- Ochlockonee River to Wakulla/Jefferson County Line: 8 to 12 feet
- Carrabelle to Ochlockonee River: 5 to 8 feet
- Indian Pass to Carrabelle: 3 to 5 feet (unchanged)
- Mexico Beach to Indian Pass: 1 to 3 feet (unchanged)