Hurricane Idalia in the Gulf of Mexico is getting stronger, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).
As of 5 a.m. EDT on Aug. 30, the hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 130 miles per hour, the NHC site showed. As of 4:00 a.m. EDT, the hurricane’s maximum sustained winds were 125 mph, as of 2:00 a.m. EDT, Idalia’s maximum sustained winds were 120 mph, and as of as of 11:00 p.m. EDT on August 29, its maximum sustained winds were 110 mph. the sketched place.
“Catastrophic storm surge inundation impacts of 12 to 16 feet above ground level and destructive waves are expected somewhere between the Wakulla/Jefferson county line and Yankeetown, Florida,” a warning posted on the site stated NHC at 11:00 PM EDT on August 29.
“Life-threatening storm surge flooding is likely elsewhere on Florida’s Gulf Coast where a storm surge warning is in place. Residents in those areas should heed any advice given by officials premises,” the notice added.
“There is the potential for life-threatening destructive winds where the core of Idalia moves ashore in Florida’s Big Bend region, with hurricane conditions expected elsewhere in parts of the warning area of ‘hurricane along Florida’s Gulf Coast,’ he continued.
“Strong winds will also spread inland across parts of northern Florida and southern Georgia near the central Idalia track, where hurricane warnings are in place. Residents in those areas should be prepared for long-lasting blackouts,” he said.
The advisory also noted that damaging hurricane-force winds are possible in eastern Georgia and southeastern South Carolina, where a hurricane watch is in effect.
In a statement posted on his Twitter page today, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said: “Idalia has strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane and is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane.”
“If you have an evacuation order, now is the time to go. You still have a couple of hours to pack your bags and hit the road before conditions deteriorate, but tonight you’re going to have to buckle down and keep -you in place,” he added.
“If you choose to stay, first responders will not be able to reach you until the storm has passed,” DeSantis continued.
Florida is the second largest producer of electricity after Texas, and natural gas fueled about 74 percent of Florida’s total net electricity generation in 2021, according to Energy Information Administration data (EIA) last updated in January 2023.
Crude field production in the state was 2,000 barrels per day in May 2023, the EIA site showed. It stood at 8,000 bpd in May 2004, 39,000 bpd in May 1984, and 116,000 bpd in January 1981, which is where EIA data on Florida field crude production goes back.
More disturbances
In addition to Hurricane Idalia, the NHC is tracking four other disturbances in the Atlantic at the time of this writing.
These include Hurricane Franklin, Tropical Depression Eleven, and two unnamed disturbances. At 5 AM AST, Hurricane Franklin had maximum sustained winds of 110 mph and a northeasterly motion of 13 mph, while Tropical Depression Eleven had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and an easterly motion of one mile per hour, the NHC site. shown
As of 2 a.m. EDT, one of the unnamed disturbances was located in the central subtropical Atlantic and had a 10 percent chance of cyclone formation within 48 hours and the other was located in the tropical Atlantic eastern and had a 40 percent chance of cyclone formation within 48 hours. hours, according to the NHC site.
As of this writing, the Bureau of Environmental Safety and Enforcement (BSEE) is not reporting any production disruptions related to the weather patterns the NHC is currently tracking in the Atlantic.
Atlantic weather systems have severely affected oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico in the past. For example, at its peak, Hurricane Ida shut down 95.65 percent of Gulf of Mexico oil production on Aug. 29, 2021, and 94.47 percent of Gulf of Mexico gas production on Aug. 31, 2021, BSEE figures show.
In a statement posted on its website earlier this month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) revealed that scientists at its climate prediction center had raised their forecast for the hurricane season of the ‘Atlantic 2023 from an almost normal level of activity to a higher level. – Normal level of activity.
Red Cross Notice
In a statement sent to Rigzone earlier this week, the Texas Gulf Coast Region of the American Red Cross warned people to “prepare for worsening extreme weather during National Preparedness Month” in September
“As rapidly intensifying weather events pose serious challenges to its humanitarian work and the people it serves, the Red Cross has announced an ambitious national plan to take urgent action,” the organization said in the statement
“The organization is scrambling to adapt its services and grow its disaster response capacity across the country, while funding new international programs on climate response and preparedness, as well as minimizing its own environmental footprint,” he said. add.
“Here in the Texas Gulf Coast region, we are recruiting and training more volunteers to respond to disasters locally and around the country,” he continued.
In the first half of 2023 alone, the US experienced “above average disasters of $15 billion,” according to the statement.
“All of this is in addition to extreme heat in the Texas Gulf Coast region and other communities, which have made July the hottest month on record in the country,” the organization said in the statement.
“Also, the United States is entering its typical peak time for hurricanes and wildfires, which wildfires have increased tremendously over last year,” he added.
To contact the author, please send an email andreas.exarcheas@rigzone.com
