<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/happy-groundhog-day-punxsutawney-phil-predicts-6-paul-bois" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Punxsutawney Phil</a> once again made his Groundhog Day prediction on Friday and, after not seeing his shadow, declared that we are in for an early spring.
The Groundhog &#8212; who&#8217;s famously been making predictions since 1887 about how long winter will last &#8212; emerged from his burrow in Pennsylvania, and in front of the crowd of fans, predicted things are about to warm up.
&#8220;Glad tidings on this Groundhog Day. An early spring is on the way,&#8221; a <a href="https://x.com/foxweather/status/1753394724818354514?s=20">proclamation</a> was read out at Gobbler&#8217;s Knob, thrilling the crowd.
However, we took a look at just how often the furry prognosticator gets it right against the U.S. National Temperature and we were surprised to learn that it&#8217;s not too many times.
In fact, the <a href="https://x.com/NOAASatellites/status/1753428558809313343?s=20">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a> went back and looked at the times Phil saw his shadow predicting 6 more weeks of winter and the times he didn&#8217;t and he&#8217;s only been right a handful of times.
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EARLY SPRING: Punxsutawney Phil doesn&#8217;t see his shadow and predicts an early spring! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PunxsutawneyPhil?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PunxsutawneyPhil</a> <a href="https://t.co/qP6utNldQX">pic.twitter.com/qP6utNldQX</a>
— FOX Weather (@foxweather) <a href="https://twitter.com/foxweather/status/1753394724818354514?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2024</a></blockquote>
A chart posted on <a href="https://x.com/NOAASatellites/status/1753428558809313343?s=20">X</a> from the <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/stories/keeping-score-groundhog-vs-temperature-record-2024">NOAA Satellites</a> noted that since 1887, the Groundhog has predicted more winter 107 times. In contrast, he&#8217;s claimed that an early spring is headed our way only 21 (counting 2024) times, and 10 other times it wasn&#8217;t recorded whether he saw his shadow or not.
Taking a deeper look into the stats, the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club has kept records of the furry rodent&#8217;s predictions over the last century and they found Phil has about a 40% accuracy rate, the <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/02/01/lifestyle/how-accurate-is-groundhog-day-heres-how-often-punxsutawney-phil-really-gets-the-weather-right/">New York Post</a> noted.
In recent years, it appears Phil has been about half-way right. In 2021, Phil saw his shadow, predicting more winter. But according to NOAA, February 2021 was the coldest since 1989 and March turned out to be warmer than normal.
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And then again in 2022, the furry prognosticator saw his shadow, but according to NOAA, February temperatures were slightly below normal, but March was above average.
This time, though, Phil might have nailed it as the <a href="https://www.weather.gov/media/mbrfc/climate/Climate_Outlook.pdf">National Weather Service</a> is predicting the months of February and March 2024 will bring &#8220;above-normal temperatures&#8221; for the central part of the country.
<a href="https://www.almanac.com/february-forecast">Farmer&#8217;s Almanac</a> has predicted that temperatures will be &#8220;warmer than normal in the deep Deep South, southern Plains, and Pacific Northwest,&#8221; but colder than normal elsewhere. It also claimed that U.S. precipitation &#8220;will be near to above normal” for the majority of the country.

Punxsutawney Phil Makes Annual Groundhog Day Appearance

Punxsutawney Phil Makes Groundhog Day Prediction. But How Often Does He Actually Get It Right?

Entertainment

General

Pennsylvania

U.S.

Weather

winter

Sunday&#8217;s NFL wild card game will be postponed until Monday as Buffalo, New York, braces for blizzard conditions.
Both the league and Governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY) put out statements on Saturday announcing the change and noting that the chief concern — as meteorologists predict heavy snow and the usual accompanying complications with regard to roads and travel — was public safety.
&#8220;I’ve been in communication with @NFL commissioner Roger Goodell regarding the dangerous conditions in Buffalo this weekend. In consultation with our emergency response teams, @BuffaloBills leadership, and the NFL, the Bills game will be postponed to 4:30 pm Monday,&#8221; Hochul announced via X.
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I’ve been in communication with <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFL</a> commissioner Roger Goodell regarding the dangerous conditions in Buffalo this weekend. 
In consultation with our emergency response teams, <a href="https://twitter.com/BuffaloBills?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BuffaloBills</a> leadership, and the NFL, the Bills game will be postponed to 4:30 pm Monday.
&mdash; Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovKathyHochul/status/1746216957924319268?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Due to public safety concerns in light of the ongoing weather emergency in western New York, Sunday&#8217;s Steelers-Bills game has been rescheduled to Monday at 4:30 p.m. ET and will be televised by CBS,&#8221; the official NFL account posted. &#8220;The decision to move the game to Monday was made in consultation with New York Governor Kathy Hochul in the best interest of public safety, and with the Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers, as the region prepares for the storm.&#8221;
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Due to public safety concerns in light of the ongoing weather emergency in western New York, Sunday&#39;s Steelers-Bills game has been rescheduled to Monday at 4:30 p.m. ET and will be televised by CBS.   The decision to move the game to Monday was made in consultation with New York…
&mdash; NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1746223406914359585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
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In addition to postponing the game, Governor Hochul announced an outright travel ban for certain parts of western New York beginning on Saturday evening.
&#8220;Travel will be extremely dangerous in Western New York tonight. A full travel ban starts at 9pm in Erie County,&#8221; she announced. &#8220;Even if snow is not falling, stay home &amp; don’t try to drive. Snow can pick up in an instant &amp; create whiteout conditions. Get essentials now before snow starts.&#8221;
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Travel will be extremely dangerous in Western New York tonight. A full travel ban starts at 9pm in Erie County.    Even if snow is not falling, stay home &amp; don’t try to drive. Snow can pick up in an instant &amp; create whiteout conditions.   Get essentials now before snow starts.
&mdash; Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovKathyHochul/status/1746239609565073696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Kathy Hochul

NFL Wild Card Game Bumped To Monday As Blizzard Bears Down On New York

Buffalo Bills

Pittsburgh Steelers

Severe Weather

Snow

A young couple’s infant son was miraculously found alive in a downed tree after their mobile home in Clarksville, Tennessee, was obliterated last weekend when a deadly EF-3 <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/massive-tornados-sweep-through-tennessee-hammer-nashville" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tornado swept through the city</a>.
Sydney Moore, a 22-year-old mother of a 1-year-old and a 4-month-old, said her youngest child, Lord, was sleeping in a bassinet when the tornado hit on Saturday afternoon, WSMV 4 <a href="https://www.wsmv.com/2023/12/12/4-month-old-survives-after-being-sucked-up-by-tornado-that-destroyed-clarksville-familys-home/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. Moore told a WSMV reporter that she saw her mobile home’s roof ripped off by the twister before it sucked up the bassinet with her baby inside it.
Moore’s boyfriend, the father of her children, rushed to save the 4-month-old child before he too was pulled away by the tornado. The young woman said she saw the tornado spin her boyfriend and baby around before it pulled them out of sight. Meanwhile, the mother hurriedly attempted to protect her other child.
“Something in me just told me to run and jump on top of my son,” Moore said. “Literally the moment I jumped on him, the walls collapsed.”
After the tornado passed, Moore and her boyfriend searched for Lord in the pouring rain, according to WSMV. The parents soon found their 4-month-old boy alive in a fallen tree with only a cut on his face. 
“I thought he was dead,” said Moore. “I was pretty sure he was dead and we weren’t going to be able to find him. But he’s here, and that’s by the grace of God.”
“It looked like a little tree cradle,” the mother added. “He was just laying there.” 
While the young family is grateful that they all survived the storm, footage from WSMV showed that Moore’s mobile home was completely destroyed, along with her vehicle. Moore’s sister Caitlyn started a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-to-rebuild-their-life-after-tornado" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> for the family, which has already received $53,000 of its $100,000 goal, as they seek to find a new place to live. For the next month, the family will live in a hotel courtesy of their rental company. 
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The Clarksville tornado was one of <a href="https://fox17.com/news/local/tema-releases-flash-report-various-midstate-counties-impacted-by-catastrophic-tornado-outbreak" target="_blank" rel="noopener">13 that touched down</a> throughout Middle Tennessee on Saturday, claiming the lives of six people, including two children. The twister that hit Clarksville left a destruction path 11 miles long and 600 yards wide, according to the National Weather Service. Three people, including a child, lost their lives in Clarksville, and hundreds of homes were destroyed.

Clarksville Tornado

‘By The Grace Of God’: 4-Month-Old Baby Found Alive In Fallen Tree After Family’s Tennessee Home Wrecked By Tornado

'By The Grace Of God': 4-Month-Old Baby Found Alive In Fallen Tree After Family's Tennessee Home Wrecked By Tornado

baby

Disasters

Tennessee

Tornado

Forecasters said on Wednesday they believe <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hurricane" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hurricane</a> Lee will be heading toward New England over the next several days.
Heading into the weekend, the storm brings the risk of wind, coastal flooding, and rain impacts for parts of New England as well as Canada&#8217;s Atlantic Coast as Lee&#8217;s core passes west of Bermuda and moves north, <a href="https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1701974377351246317" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to the National Hurricane Center</a>. The National Weather Service forecast office in Boston/Norton, Massachusetts, additionally <a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=BOX&amp;issuedby=BOX&amp;product=AFD&amp;format=CI&amp;version=1&amp;glossary=1&amp;highlight=off" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned</a> of increasing surf and rip currents.
Atmospheric conditions are expected to prompt Hurricane Lee to &#8220;gradually increase in forward speed&#8221; and may cause it to &#8220;turn slightly to the left Friday night and Saturday, which will likely bring Lee close to southeastern New England before it reaches Maine and Atlantic Canada later in the weekend,&#8221; NHC <a href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT3+shtml/131438.shtml?" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a discussion post.
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11 am AST: Hurricane <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lee?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lee</a> is expected to move toward New England and Atlantic Canada. Here are the Key Messages. Visit <a href="https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb">https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb</a> <a href="https://t.co/qrQg0FXPgn">pic.twitter.com/qrQg0FXPgn</a>
&mdash; National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1701974377351246317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Confidence is increasing in the forecast track, and the model spread is mostly along-track, associated with the system&#8217;s forward speed/timing,&#8221; NHC added, emphasizing how the forecast has become more certain over time. &#8220;Overall, little change was made to the previous NHC track forecast, and it remains very near the various consensus models.&#8221;
Lee weakened from its <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lee-becomes-powerful-category-5-hurricane" target="_blank" rel="noopener">peak Category 5 status</a> last week but has <a href="https://news.yahoo.com/hurricane-lee-slows-ahead-northward-083559662.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">grown in size</a> over the past few days, meaning its hurricane-force winds are stretching out farther away from its center. Forecasters with NHC said the storm would bring rough surf and rip currents to a wide area in the Caribbean —including the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico — and tropical storm conditions to Bermuda in the coming days.
&#8220;Due to Lee&#8217;s large size, hazards will extend well away from the center, and there will be little to no significance on exactly where the center reaches the coast,&#8221; NHC stressed.
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The storm clocked in as a <a href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshws.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Category 3 hurricane</a> with sustained maximum winds of 115 miles per hour as of midday on Wednesday, but forecasters believe it will continue to diminish as it gets closer to New England and Canada. Still, they warned, Lee will pose a danger to people in those areas.
&#8220;[Lee] is still a major hurricane &amp; poses a serious threat to New England &amp; the Canadian Maritimes. Although weaker this weekend, expect high surf, coastal flooding, beach erosion, &amp; periods of high winds. Lee will be moving quickly, with [effects] being intense but short-lived,&#8221; Weather Channel meteorologist Mike Bettes <a href="https://twitter.com/mikebettes/status/1701998748107264227" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in a post to X</a>.
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lee?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lee</a> is still a major hurricane &amp; poses a serious threat to New England &amp; the Canadian Maritimes. Although weaker this weekend, expect high surf, coastal flooding, beach erosion, &amp; periods of high winds. Lee will be moving quickly, with affects being intense but short-lived. <a href="https://t.co/phvQrwfUwi">pic.twitter.com/phvQrwfUwi</a>
&mdash; Mike Bettes (@mikebettes) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikebettes/status/1701998748107264227?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The Atlantic hurricane season, which stretches from June 1 to November 30, is currently at its peak. Another second hurricane, Margot, is churning around the central Atlantic Ocean and is not<a href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/131455.shtml?" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> expected to go very far over the next few days</a>. And a <a href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo.php?basin=atlc&amp;fdays=2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">disturbance over the eastern Atlantic Ocean</a> has an 80% chance of forming into a tropical cyclone in the next week.
A hurricane named Idalia <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/electric-vehicles-catch-fire-after-hurricane-idalia-flooding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slammed into Florida&#8217;s Gulf Coast in late August</a>, causing flooding, power outages, and <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/weather/hurricane/article279223344.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at least four deaths</a>.

Hurricane Lee

Forecasters Warn Hurricane Lee Expected To Move Toward New England

Boston

Canada

Hurricane

Puerto Rico

Virgin Islands

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hurricane" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hurricane</a> Lee has become a &#8220;dangerous&#8221; Category 5 storm over the Atlantic Ocean, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) announced late Thursday.
An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter found that the hurricane &#8220;skyrocketed&#8221; to the high end of the <a href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshws.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale</a> during the day with sustained maximum winds of 160 miles per hour, the federal agency <a href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT3+shtml/080252.shtml?">explained</a> in an 11 p.m. ET discussion post.
The storm is expected to maintain a &#8220;steady&#8221; track to the west-northwest, passing &#8220;well to the north&#8221; of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico over the next five days, NHC said.
During that period, Lee may slightly diminish to Category 4 status, which would still keep it as a major hurricane with the potential for &#8220;catastrophic&#8221; damage, according to the <a href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshws.php">Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale</a>.
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Lee, now a category five hurricane with winds of 160 mph, is still expected to turn north before reaching the U.S. East Coast next week. <a href="https://t.co/wRk5uHo5YR">pic.twitter.com/wRk5uHo5YR</a>
&mdash; James Spann (@spann) <a href="https://twitter.com/spann/status/1699981624677429316?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Afterward, the track for Hurricane Lee becomes far less certain, as is often the case with extended forecasts.
&#8220;Although there are some indications that Lee might begin a northward turn around the middle of next week, it is still way [too] soon to focus on specific model scenarios that far out into the future,&#8221; NHC said.
Some computer models indicated on Thursday that Hurricane Lee <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hurricane-lee-expected-to-reach-category-5-strength">could threaten to directly impact</a>, if not make landfall, over the Mid-Atlantic, New England, or Canada. Another possibility is that the storm gets steered away from the U.S.
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a>: CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LEE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LEE</a>. 160 MPH WINDS. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TropicalUpdate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TropicalUpdate</a> 🌀 <a href="https://t.co/wN6wIOU8K6">pic.twitter.com/wN6wIOU8K6</a>
&mdash; Dylan Federico (@DylanFedericoWX) <a href="https://twitter.com/DylanFedericoWX/status/1699980711493542146?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents are likely in the northern Leeward Islands beginning Friday. These conditions will spread westward and northward, affecting Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas, and Bermuda through the weekend,&#8221; the NHC said as one of its &#8220;key messages&#8221; in its 11 p.m. post.
&#8220;It is way too soon to know what level of impacts, if any, Lee might have along the U.S. East Coast, Atlantic Canada, or Bermuda late next week, particularly since the hurricane is expected to slow down considerably over the southwestern Atlantic,&#8221; NHC said in another message. &#8220;Regardless, dangerous surf and rip currents are expected along most of the U.S.  East Coast beginning Sunday. Continue to monitor updates to Lee&#8217;s forecast during the next several days.&#8221;
The Weather Channel also emphasized the uncertainty in the longterm forecast, <a href="https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2023-09-06-hurricane-lee-forecast-atlantic-rapid-intensification">but warned</a> &#8220;Bermuda, the northeast U.S. coast and Atlantic Canada should monitor the forecast closely.&#8221;
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The Atlantic hurricane season, which stretches from June 1 to November 30, is currently at its peak. Lee is the first Category 5 hurricane since last season. Tropical Storm Margot has formed over the eastern Atlantic Ocean, and so far the <a href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT4+shtml/080253.shtml?">NHC forecast calls for it stay out to sea</a> as it becomes a hurricane.
Another hurricane named Idalia <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/electric-vehicles-catch-fire-after-hurricane-idalia-flooding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slammed into Florida&#8217;s Gulf Coast last week</a>, causing flooding, power outages, and <a href="https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/regional/florida/hurricane-idalia-death-toll/67-c1119bc7-30bb-45b6-9170-b7b8551a57d7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at least two deaths</a>.

Hurricane Lee Cat 5

Lee Becomes Powerful Category 5 Hurricane

Forecasters with the federal government predict <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hurricane" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hurricane</a> Lee will reach Category 5 status by the weekend as it heads toward the United States, though its extended track remains uncertain.
Maximum sustained winds are expected to reach 160 miles per hour by the weekend, putting the storm at the high end of the <a href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshws.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale</a> with the potential for &#8220;catastrophic&#8221; damage.
&#8220;Many of the models are calling for remarkable rates of intensification, beyond rates normally seen with model forecasts,&#8221; the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in a <a href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT3+shtml/071459.shtml?" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Thursday discussion post</a>.
In the days that follow, the storm is expected to slightly diminish to Category 4 status, which would still keep it as a major hurricane.
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11AM AST Sep 7: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lee?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lee</a> is forecast to become a major hurricane later today. Stay up to date with the latest at <a href="https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ">https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ</a> <a href="https://t.co/OytGC4Atmo">pic.twitter.com/OytGC4Atmo</a>
&mdash; National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1699805035188900004?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The NHC said the storm, which was moving over the Atlantic Ocean toward the Caribbean as a Category 2 hurricane as of midday on Thursday, would likely travel north of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and other nearby islands over the weekend and into next week. But, the agency added, these islands should continue monitoring for updates.
&#8220;Swells generated by Lee are expected to reach portions of the Lesser Antilles on Friday, and the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Bahamas, and Bermuda this weekend. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions,&#8221; the NHC stressed in one of its <a href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT3+shtml/071459.shtml?" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;key&#8221; messages</a>.
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A look at Hurricane Lee as it swirls in the western Atlantic Ocean this morning. The current maximum sustained wind gusts are 90 mph.
Lee is forecast to intensify rapidly into a powerful Category 5 hurricane (157+ mph sustained winds) by the weekend. <a href="https://t.co/OUpcEKCIfr">pic.twitter.com/OUpcEKCIfr</a>
&mdash; AccuWeather (@accuweather) <a href="https://twitter.com/accuweather/status/1699788847817855302?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The outlook for next week for Hurricane Lee gets murky, as is often the case with extended forecasts, and even if it does not make landfall over North America, its effects could still extend far and wide.
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A <a href="https://www.accuweather.com/en/hurricane/hurricane-lee-set-to-explode-to-category-5-strength-prior-to-caribbean-us-impacts/1576688#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video from AccuWeather</a> showed that Hurricane Lee would turn to the north and, depending on the jet stream, could lead to a &#8220;direct impact risk&#8221; somewhere along the coast of the Mid-Atlantic, New England, or Canada. Another possibility is that the jet stream steers it away from the U.S.
The Atlantic hurricane season, which stretches from June 1 to November 30, is currently at its peak. Another hurricane named Idalia <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/electric-vehicles-catch-fire-after-hurricane-idalia-flooding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slammed into Florida&#8217;s Gulf Coast last week</a>, causing flooding, power outages, and <a href="https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/regional/florida/hurricane-idalia-death-toll/67-c1119bc7-30bb-45b6-9170-b7b8551a57d7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at least two deaths</a>.
Though it appears right now Hurricane Lee will not hit Florida, one local forecaster recommended that the rest of the East Coast keep watch. &#8220;Models continue to thankfully keep this well away from Florida, but should be monitored from the Carolinas to Eastern Canada,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/MattDevittWINK/status/1699800369126367544" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> WINK News chief meteorologist Matt Devitt.

Hurricane Lee Expected To Reach Category 5 Strength

Florida

Burning Man festival organizers on Monday said they expect attendees to begin leaving the event site by midday after rain and flash flooding trapped more than <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/1-dead-70000-stranded-after-flash-flooding-interrupts-burning-man-festival-in-nevada-desert" target="_blank" rel="noopener">70,000 festival-goers</a> in the northwestern portion of the Nevada desert over the weekend.
In a <a href="https://burningman.org/event/wetplaya2023/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>, event officials said the main road to enter and exit the site is drying up but remains &#8220;a bit too muddy,&#8221; with standing water impacting those attempting to navigate out of Black Rock City.
&#8220;Exodus is planned to officially begin around noon today, Monday 9/4,&#8221; the statement reads. &#8220;Expect an update again in the next few hours.&#8221;
Burning Man festival, which has attracted up to 100,000 people to the remote area roughly 100 miles away from Reno since the 1980s, describes itself as a &#8220;community and global cultural movement&#8221; that tests self-sufficiency, promotes radical self-expression, and pinnacles at the end during the burning of a giant wooden effigy.
The &#8220;Man burn&#8221; was initially scheduled to happen on Sunday night, but festival organizers postponed setting ablaze the effigy at &#8220;The Chapel of Babel&#8221; at midnight on Tuesday.
Departing the festival, known as &#8220;Exodus,&#8221; typically takes up to 12 hours for festival-goers to leave the site as thousands of cars and trailers drive off the playa and onto a two-lane desert highway.
Festival organizers advised attendees to wait until Tuesday to depart to alleviate traffic congestion throughout the day.
Thick, ankle-deep mud overwhelmed more than 70,000 people attending the annual weeklong summer festival in the Nevada desert as heavy rain poured in the area for several hours, leaving festival-goers stranded and forced to shelter in place and conserve resources.
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Marian Goodell, CEO of Burning Man Project, <a href="http://nbcnews.com/news/us-news/burning-man-attendees-struggle-escape-70000-remain-stuck-black-rock-ci-rcna103175">told</a> NBC News on Sunday that &#8220;there is no cause for panic.&#8221;
&#8220;We&#8217;re very pleased and surprised that there has been such a fuss over us,&#8221; she said. &#8220;We&#8217;ve made it really clear that we do not see this as an evacuation situation. The water is drying up.&#8221;
This year&#8217;s event began on August 27 and was scheduled to end Monday. But after heavy rains started flooding the festival site and adding to an already saturated playa on Friday night, the Bureau of Land Management and the Pershing County Sheriff&#8217;s Office officials closed the festival&#8217;s entrance gate.
Local authorities in the Nevada desert are investigating one death at the Burning Man festival after rain and flash flooding forced tens of thousands of attendees to shelter in place and conserve resources on Saturday. Although the deceased person&#8217;s identity or the cause of death has not been publicly released, authorities said family members have been notified. Burning Man officials said on Sunday that the death was “unrelated to the weather,” <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/burning-man-festival-nevada-death-fema-b2404260.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to The Independent.

US-FESTIVAL-WEATHER

‘Burning Man’ Festivalgoers Almost Cleared To Leave Flooded Desert, Organizers Say

'Burning Man' Festivalgoers Almost Cleared To Leave Flooded Desert, Organizers Say

Death

Nevada

Meteorologist Ryan Maue dumped cold water on CNN&#8217;s climate hysteria amid <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hurricane" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hurricane Idalia&#8217;s</a> brutal assault on Florida&#8217;s Gulf Coast early on Wednesday morning.
Maue was responding to a report from CNN&#8217;s Bill Weir, who claimed that the continued use of fossil fuels was to blame for the increasing intensity of major storms, and argued that states like Florida — where parts of the economy are dependent on drilling in the Gulf of Mexico — would just have to learn to balance financial interests with climate mitigation efforts.
WATCH:
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.⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/BillWeirCNN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BillWeirCNN</a>⁩: “The cost of [using fossil fuels] is becoming bigger with every storm. Science has been warning about this for a very long time, in many ways it has been predicted. It is the speed that we’re seeing these changes that has taken most folks by surprise.” <a href="https://t.co/m6uvy7rUum">pic.twitter.com/m6uvy7rUum</a>
&mdash; Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) <a href="https://twitter.com/tomselliott/status/1696855963972550963?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;That&#8217;s the biggest sort of trillion dollar question about how you adapt communities like this to the world that we&#8217;re already now living in, at the same time trying to mitigate further — more wicked storms down the road with more fossil fuel pollution,&#8221; Weir began, noting that President Joe Biden&#8217;s administration was planning to open up the Gulf to more oil and gas lease sales.
&#8220;The cost of [using fossil fuels] is becoming bigger with every storm. Science has been warning about this for a very long time, in many ways it has been predicted. It is the speed that we’re seeing these changes that has taken most folks by surprise,&#8221; he continued.
Maue pushed back, however, saying that while Idalia was certainly a force to be reckoned with, a hurricane with winds of that strength was not unprecedented in that area.
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&#8220;CNN went full &#8216;climate crisis&#8217; with their top climate expert Dr. Bill Weir so early in the morning with Idalia. Except, the landfall of Idalia is only strongest along coastal area since 1896 Cedar Keys hurricane (125 mph) 125-years ago, well prior to modern fossil fuel usage,&#8221; he said.
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CNN went full &quot;climate crisis&quot; with their top climate expert Dr. Bill Weir so early in the morning with Idalia. 
Except, the landfall of Idalia is only strongest along coastal area since 1896 Cedar Keys hurricane (125 mph) 125-years ago, well prior to modern fossil fuel usage. <a href="https://t.co/MFKD0e5qbF">https://t.co/MFKD0e5qbF</a>
&mdash; Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanMaue/status/1696858220764004737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Maue also shared a graphic with additional details, adding, &#8220;1896 Cedar Keys hurricane also made landfall in Florida&#8217;s Big Bend with 125 mph winds[.] Climate context: this is a 0 mph landfall maximum wind increase from 1896-2023 or 0 mph/century for the worst 2 storms.&#8221;
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1896 Cedar Keys hurricane also made landfall in Florida&#39;s Big Bend with 125 mph winds
Climate context: this is a 0 mph landfall maximum wind increase from 1896-2023 or 0 mph/century for the worst 2 storms. <a href="https://t.co/y82ZEBxHqa">pic.twitter.com/y82ZEBxHqa</a>
&mdash; Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanMaue/status/1696855764365648193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Maue also responded to critics who argued that no one could ignore just how rapidly Idalia had gained strength — and attributing that to climate change — saying, &#8220;How much stronger was Idalia made because of climate change? Why didn&#8217;t Idalia rapidly intensify during the 3 days it sat over the NW Caribbean? Did someone forget to push a button or turn a knob?&#8221;
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How much stronger was Idalia made because of climate change?
Why didn&#39;t Idalia rapidly intensify during the 3 days it sat over the NW Caribbean? Did someone forget to push a button or turn a knob?
&mdash; Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanMaue/status/1696869145948643794?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Hurricane Idalia Slams Into Florida’s Gulf Coast

Meteorologist Dumps Cold Water On CNN’s Idalia-Fueled Climate Hysteria

Meteorologist Dumps Cold Water On CNN's Idalia-Fueled Climate Hysteria

Climate Change

Hurricane Idalia

Media

A reporter got slammed on social media for asking Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ron-desantis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ron DeSantis</a> about former President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a>, a 2024 rival and fellow <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/florida" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Florida</a> resident, during a press conference focused on Hurricane <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/in-an-escalating-forecast-tropical-storm-idalia-expected-to-hit-florida-as-major-hurricane" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Idalia</a> as it <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/unprecedented-event-idalia-smashes-into-florida" target="_blank" rel="noopener">smashed into his state</a> on Wednesday.
DeSantis, who has paused his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination while spearheading Florida&#8217;s response to the storm, gave a brief response to the question — which sought his opinion on Trump not publicly commenting on Idalia — before returning to the issue of the moment.
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When asked about his thoughts on fmr. Pres. Trump, who is a resident of Florida, not commenting on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HurricaneIdalia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HurricaneIdalia</a>, Gov. DeSantis says it’s “not my concern”:
“My concern is protecting the people of Florida” <a href="https://t.co/dk4JEHsGM2">https://t.co/dk4JEHsGM2</a> <a href="https://t.co/QqXMs33n0r">pic.twitter.com/QqXMs33n0r</a>
&mdash; CBS News (@CBSNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/1696844376809394468?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;It&#8217;s not my concern. My concern is protecting the people of Florida, being ready to go and we have done that,&#8221; DeSantis said before expanding on preparation efforts across the state.
&#8220;We&#8217;ll be back doing some more briefings and then as soon as the storm passes I think we&#8217;ll probably end up trying to get on the road and figuring out where the worst damage is and get down there and see what we can do to help those folks,&#8221; he added.
The exchange, which garnered more than 200,000 views in the hours after it was posted to X by CBS News, drew comments from conservatives, media figures, and others mocking and condemning the reporter for asking a political question while a major hurricane was bearing down on Florida.
&#8220;Because he’s busy leading. He doesn’t have time to post videos and wax smack. What a dumb question,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/DLoesch/status/1696888782472073405">said</a> nationally syndicated radio host Dana Loesch.
&#8220;Incredible. These people,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/1696890577755750806">said</a> Spectator contributing editor Stephen L. Miller.
&#8220;We know you&#8217;re in the middle of dealing with a serious hurricane but we&#8217;d like to see you guys fight, please,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/karol/status/1696891647806624097">added</a> New York Post columnist Karol Markowicz.
&#8220;Literally in the middle of a hurricane pounding the state and this is what one idiot decided to ask. Oh. And Trump is in New Jersey, as he usually is during the warm weather months,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeConchaTV/status/1696898440452534581">said</a> media critic Joe Concha.
More comments reflected similar quips about the media. Other users complimented DeSantis for his answer to the question.
&#8220;No leader compares to Governor,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/MsBradsher/status/1696853726705684827">said</a> one user. &#8220;Serious executive vs. unserious press,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/awstar11/status/1696887193015357760">chimed in another</a>.
Christina Pushaw, the rapid response director for DeSantis, critiqued the media while sharing the video.
&#8220;Some &#8216;journalists&#8217; should be ashamed of themselves,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/ChristinaPushaw/status/1696892612613984632">Pushaw said</a>. &#8220;Why ask a question about inane political back-and-forth right before a category 3 hurricane hits Florida? Is there something you could ask the governor that might actually provide useful info for your audience?&#8221;

Ron DeSantis

Journalist Roasted For Asking DeSantis About Trump During Hurricane Presser

2024 Election

Donald Trump

Politics

Visceral images showing the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/supermoon-could-intensify-hurricane-idalias-storm-surge">storm surge</a> from Hurricane <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/in-an-escalating-forecast-tropical-storm-idalia-expected-to-hit-florida-as-major-hurricane" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Idalia</a> emerged Wednesday out of Cedar Key, a small clump of islands that make up a city of roughly <a href="https://cityofcedarkey.org/">800 full-time residents</a> and a <a href="https://www.fws.gov/refuge/cedar-keys">National Wildlife Refuge</a> along the Gulf Coast of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/florida">Florida</a>.
Short video clips posted to X captured inundated streets, torrents crashing upon the walls of structures, pieces of debris floating around, and buildings flooded with water in the area.
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HEARTBREAKING 💔 We&#39;re getting a first look at Hurricane Idalia&#39;s devastating storm surge in Cedar Key. <a href="https://t.co/F31HqkPjy8">https://t.co/F31HqkPjy8</a> <a href="https://t.co/DS3pWRXyBi">pic.twitter.com/DS3pWRXyBi</a>
&mdash; WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WFLA/status/1696891966364012719?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The Weather Channel&#8217;s Jim Cantore, who is well known for broadcasting live from stormy disasters, picked Cedar Key as his base of operations while covering Hurricane Idalia. He and his producer shared videos showing more than 6 feet of storm surge and its effects.
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Live w/ <a href="https://twitter.com/JimCantore?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JimCantore</a> in Cedar Key, FL on <a href="https://twitter.com/weatherchannel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@weatherchannel</a> where the storm surge is at 6+ ft and rising from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HurricaneIdalia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HurricaneIdalia</a> <a href="https://t.co/zE7aS30E4T">pic.twitter.com/zE7aS30E4T</a>
&mdash; Steve Petyerak (@StevePetyerak) <a href="https://twitter.com/StevePetyerak/status/1696844644347183322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Surrounded by water as expected,&#8221; Cantore <a href="https://twitter.com/JimCantore/status/1696887509957972126">said</a> in one post.
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A RECORD 6.9 foot storm surge in Cedar Key, FL. Surrounded by water as expected. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UOF?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UOF</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/idalia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#idalia</a> <a href="https://t.co/o1ugmxyA0R">pic.twitter.com/o1ugmxyA0R</a>
&mdash; Jim Cantore (@JimCantore) <a href="https://twitter.com/JimCantore/status/1696887509957972126?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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A mandatory evacuation order <a href="https://cityofcedarkey.org/wp-content/uploads/ORDER-MANDATORY-EVACUATION-IDALIA.pdf">instructed Cedar Key residents</a> to leave the city by Tuesday, but not everyone heeded the warning.
Asked during a press conference about an estimated 100 people who refused to flee, Florida Republican Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ron-desantis">Ron DeSantis</a> noted there was a &#8220;hazardous situation&#8221; with the storm surge.
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says it’s a “hazardous situation” in Cedar Key, where some people have stayed even as the storm surge from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HurricaneIdalia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HurricaneIdalia</a> is expected to rise up to 16 feet
“There will be rescue efforts done if need be,” DeSantis says <a href="https://t.co/dk4JEHsGM2">https://t.co/dk4JEHsGM2</a> <a href="https://t.co/zS34BU4PdB">pic.twitter.com/zS34BU4PdB</a>
&mdash; CBS News (@CBSNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/1696841638855749771?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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“There will be rescue efforts done if need be,” <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/1696841638855749771">he said</a>. &#8220;And hopefully it&#8217;s not necessary. Hopefully they knew what they were doing and they have a spot.&#8221;
As Idalia approached Florida, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that some areas in and around the Big Bend region along the coast might face double-digit storm surge when measured in feet.
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This is what more than six feet of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Idalia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Idalia</a>&#39;s storm surge looks like in Cedar Key, Florida, where <a href="https://twitter.com/JimCantore?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JimCantore</a> is LIVE: <a href="https://t.co/rL0RI31Bj6">pic.twitter.com/rL0RI31Bj6</a>
&mdash; The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) <a href="https://twitter.com/weatherchannel/status/1696868302369263659?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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NHC Deputy Director Jamie Rhome <a href="https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/tropical-storm-idalia-hurricane-florida/card/storm-surge-threatens-to-cut-cedar-key-off-from-mainland-florida-nhc-official-warns-m2VXeMwAwHn6XYKsq6aw">said</a> he was &#8220;especially concerned&#8221; for anyone who remained in Cedar Key as it was &#8220;right smack in the middle of that area,&#8221; noting &#8220;the entire island could be cut off with conditions like that.&#8221;
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Idalia made landfall as a major Category 3 hurricane around 7:45 a.m. near Keaton Beach, Florida, which is located about an 89-mile drive north of Cedar Key.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Per <a href="https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NHC_Atlantic</a> Hurricane <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Idalia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Idalia</a> has made landfall as a Category 3 Major Hurricane with max sustained winds of 125mph near Keaton Beach, Florida at 7:45 am EDT. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FLwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FLwx</a> <a href="https://t.co/BoMcnvb7W8">pic.twitter.com/BoMcnvb7W8</a>
&mdash; NWS Tallahassee (@NWSTallahassee) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSTallahassee/status/1696852549138276614?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Michael Bobbit, a Cedar Key resident, called in to speak with ABC News about what Idalia did to his city.
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Cedar Key, FL, resident tells <a href="https://twitter.com/dianermacedo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dianermacedo</a> that &quot;it looks like our entire downtown commercial district is underwater&quot; due to Hurricane Idalia flooding. <a href="https://t.co/paCF2AW5sc">pic.twitter.com/paCF2AW5sc</a>
&mdash; ABC News Live (@ABCNewsLive) <a href="https://twitter.com/ABCNewsLive/status/1696898525789884490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;It looks like our entire downtown commercial district is underwater,&#8221; Bobbit said. &#8220;We have no commercial buildings that aren&#8217;t almost entirely inundated. And it means — I&#8217;d say 50% of the houses on the island have water in them.&#8221;
Bobbit, who mentioned that he was walking through waist-deep water while surveying the damage, also said, &#8220;So far I don&#8217;t think we&#8217;ve had any loss of life or any significant injury.&#8221;

Hurricane Idalia Hits Cedar Key

‘Surrounded By Water’: Storm Surge Inundates Florida’s Cedar Key

'Surrounded By Water': Storm Surge Inundates This Florida City

Storm surge from Hurricane <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/in-an-escalating-forecast-tropical-storm-idalia-expected-to-hit-florida-as-major-hurricane" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Idalia</a> could get a boost from an imminent supermoon as the tropical system rolls toward <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/florida">Florida</a> this week.
CNN meteorologist Chad Myers <a href="https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1696624200209829905">explained</a> what to expect during a segment less than 24 hours before <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/national-weather-service-warns-hurricane-idalia-poses-unprecedented-danger-to-florida">Idalia is predicted to make landfall</a> somewhere over Florida&#8217;s Big Bend region between Panama City and Tampa on Wednesday.
&#8220;Right now, today and tonight, the moon is 18,000 miles closer than normal because the moon&#8217;s orbit isn&#8217;t a circle. It&#8217;s kind of a big egg,&#8221; Myers told anchor Jake Tapper. &#8220;So because it&#8217;s closer, you get about a 5% higher pull because it&#8217;s 5% closer than normal.&#8221;
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A rare blue supermoon could intensify Idalia’s storm surge as the hurricane is expected to make landfall on Florida’s west coast Wednesday.
The moon’s close proximity to Earth will strengthen its intensified gravitational pull and is expected to makes tides higher. <a href="https://t.co/DrZZaKE27y">pic.twitter.com/DrZZaKE27y</a>
&mdash; The Recount (@therecount) <a href="https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1696624200209829905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2023</a></blockquote>
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That stronger gravitational pull &#8220;is going to raise any of these storm surges that would have been — let&#8217;s say 14 feet — would make it 15 feet,&#8221; Myers added, figures which match the high-end of the <a href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT5+shtml/292354.shtml?">National Hurricane Center&#8217;s forecast</a> for water height above ground in some areas of Florida.
&#8220;You&#8217;re going to see these tides worldwide higher than normal,&#8221; he continued, &#8220;but it affects obviously this storm because as you push water onshore, if the tide&#8217;s going to be higher, you have to add that surge to the tide, and that&#8217;s what we&#8217;re going to see tonight.&#8221;
The moon will not just be a supermoon on Wednesday night, but a rare blue supermoon. Blue in this instance is not a reference to the color, but rather an indicator that it is the <a href="https://moon.nasa.gov/news/197/super-blue-moons-your-questions-answered/">second full moon in a single month</a>. There will <a href="https://moon.nasa.gov/news/197/super-blue-moons-your-questions-answered/">not be another blue supermoon</a> until 2037, according to NASA.
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As for right now, Brian Haines, the meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service office in Charleston, South Carolina, was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-idalia-supermoon-tides-c84a50eb054358f424934a6422373b73">quoted by the Associated Press</a> saying, &#8220;I would say the timing is pretty bad for this one.&#8221;
A low tide will take place in the morning on Wednesday in the Big Bend area followed by a high tide during midday, which <a href="https://weather.com/safety/hurricane/news/2023-08-28-tropical-storm-hurricane-idalia-strength-track-surge-size">a post by Weather.com</a> noted could be important depending on when Idalia actually makes landfall.
Idalia, which <a href="https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1696446609121567205" target="_blank" rel="noopener">strengthened into a hurricane</a> early on Tuesday, has already drenched Havana, Cuba, and has been intensifying as it moves over the warm waters of the Gulf Coast toward Florida. It reached Category 2 strength in the afternoon and is expected to intensify into a major Category 3 storm by Wednesday.
Heavy rain, flooding, strong winds, and even tornados could affect Florida, as well as neighboring states in the coming days. And there will be storm surge, which prompted Florida Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ron-desantis">Ron DeSantis</a> to warn residents to seek refuge if they are in and around the Big Bend area — <a href="https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2023/08/29/cedar-key-florida-where-hurricane-idalia-path-track-gulf-mexico/70707213007/">mentioning Cedar Key in particular</a> — where myriad evacuation orders have been given.
&#8220;Storm surge is something — you&#8217;re not going to win that battle if you decide to stay behind for that,&#8221; DeSantis <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkuK-qusn0A">said</a> during a briefing. &#8220;You run away from the water and then you hide from the wind.&#8221;
The outer bands of the storm are already sweeping through parts of Florida. In fact, the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/video/watch-streets-flood-in-fort-myers-beach-as-hurricane-idalia-nears-florida/0D006961-D44C-49F8-97B6-E633C40EE1A6.html">streets of Fort Myers</a> were already flooding on Tuesday.

The Gibbous Moon

Supermoon Could Intensify Hurricane Idalia’s Storm Surge

Supermoon Could Intensify Hurricane Idalia's Storm Surge

Moon

Hurricane <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/in-an-escalating-forecast-tropical-storm-idalia-expected-to-hit-florida-as-major-hurricane" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Idalia</a> is expected to careen into <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/florida" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Florida</a> on Wednesday in a way not previously observed in recorded history, according to forecasters working for the federal government.
Although Sunshine State locals are very familiar with hurricanes, the Tallahassee office of the National Weather Service (NWS) warned on Tuesday that Idalia will &#8220;likely be an unprecedented event for many locations in the Florida Big Bend,&#8221; a moniker given to the region where the state&#8217;s panhandle connects to the peninsula along the Gulf Coast.
&#8220;Looking back through recorded history, NO major <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hurricane" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hurricanes</a> have ever moved through the Apalachee Bay. When you try to compare this storm to others, DON&#8217;T. No one has seen this,&#8221; the NWS office <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSTallahassee/status/1696544257451216896" target="_blank" rel="noopener">added in a post to X</a>.
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Hurricane <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Idalia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Idalia</a> will likely be an unprecedented event for many locations in the Florida Big Bend. Looking back through recorded history, NO major hurricanes have ever moved through the Apalachee Bay. When you try to compare this storm to others, DON&#39;T. No one has seen this. <a href="https://t.co/m9X8dcarc5">pic.twitter.com/m9X8dcarc5</a>
&mdash; NWS Tallahassee (@NWSTallahassee) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSTallahassee/status/1696544257451216896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2023</a></blockquote>
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A major hurricane is one that is Category 3 or above, according to the <a href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshws.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale</a>. As of midday on Tuesday, the forecast called for Idalia&#8217;s center to make landfall over the Big Bend region somewhere between Panama City and Tampa early on Wednesday. Still, forecasters have cautioned that the storm&#8217;s bands and impacts stretch far beyond just the core. They have also said the predicted track of the storm may shift over time.
Heavy rain, flooding, storm surge <a href="https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1696539974072672413" target="_blank" rel="noopener">up to 15 feet</a> above ground level, strong winds, and even tornados could affect Florida as well as neighboring states. After sweeping across Florida, Idalia may hug the coast and move northeast as a diminished system along the coasts of Georgia and the Carolinas after passing through Florida before curling out to the Atlantic Ocean by the end of the week.
Idalia, which <a href="https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1696446609121567205" target="_blank" rel="noopener">strengthened into a hurricane</a> early on Tuesday, has already drenched Havana, Cuba, and is intensifying as it moves over the warm waters of the Gulf Coast toward Florida.
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11 AM EDT 29 Aug <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Idalia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Idalia</a> strengthens, with catastrophic storm surge expected in the Big Bend region. Residents in these areas should follow any advice or evacuation orders given by local officials. Make sure to stay informed with latest updates at <a href="https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ">https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ</a> <a href="https://t.co/MkORCjjpi6">pic.twitter.com/MkORCjjpi6</a>
&mdash; National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1696539974072672413?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2023</a></blockquote>
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An assortment of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/evacuation-orders-issued-in-florida-as-idalia-approaches-hurricane-strength" target="_blank" rel="noopener">evacuation orders</a> have been given in counties in and around the Big Bend region. The NWS Tallahassee Office <a href="https://www.weather.gov/tae/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> preparations and evacuations &#8220;need to be rushed to completion&#8221; before sunset on Tuesday as conditions are expected to &#8220;rapidly&#8221; deteriorate into the evening.
Emergency shelters are opening up across parts of Florida, utility workers are <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hurricane-idalia-2023-duke-energy-outage-florida/#:~:text=A%20Florida%20utility%20is%20preparing,before%20making%20landfall%20on%20Wednesday." target="_blank" rel="noopener">preparing for widespread power outages</a>, and tolls have been suspended to facilitate travel. In addition, schools are closing across Florida, <a href="https://www.wftv.com/news/local/heres-where-you-can-pick-up-sandbags-seminole-county-officials-monitor-invest-93l/Q6HGNFOV6FFK3P43POUIQOS4RY/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sandbags</a> are being made available to residents, and Tampa International Airport <a href="https://news.tampaairport.com/tampa-international-airport-to-close-early-tuesday-ahead-of-potential-major-hurricane/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suspended commercial operations</a> on Tuesday.
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&#8220;If you are under an evacuation order, remember that you do NOT need to drive hundreds of miles. Find higher ground and listen to your local officials,&#8221; Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) said in a post to X.
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If you are under an evacuation order, remember that you do NOT need to drive hundreds of miles.
Find higher ground and listen to your local officials. <a href="https://t.co/ronwZCfxb4">pic.twitter.com/ronwZCfxb4</a>
&mdash; Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1696530574587097269?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The governor <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/27/desantis-pauses-campaigning-as-florida-faces-duel-crises-00113140" target="_blank" rel="noopener">paused his presidential campaign</a> and has been working to oversee the state&#8217;s efforts to prepare for the storm. Desantis has directed people to follow the <a href="https://twitter.com/FLSERT" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Florida Division of Emergency Management</a> for the most up-to-date information and on Tuesday expanded the number of counties under a <a href="https://www.flgov.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/EO-23-175-1.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">state of emergency to 49</a>.
President Joe Biden has also approved an emergency declaration for Florida, unlocking federal assistance for state, tribal, and local response efforts related to Idalia.

Florida’s Gulf Coast Prepares For Arrival Of Hurricane Idalia

National Weather Service Warns Hurricane Idalia Poses ‘Unprecedented’ Danger To Florida

National Weather Sevice Warns Hurricane Idalia Poses 'Unprecedented' Danger To Florida

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