Idalia now has Brevard under Tropical Storm Warning
The National Hurricane Center expects Tropical Storm Idalia to quickly gather strength as it pushes further into the Gulf before making landfall in Florida as a major storm somewhere north of Tampa Wednesday.
While Idalia is expected to cross the state north of Brevard, high winds and rain are still possible for our area. The National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm watch Monday for the Atlantic Coast from Georgia south to Sebastian Inlet, meaning that tropical storm conditions were possible with 48 hours.
No evacuations have been ordered for Brevard, but local officials are watching the storm closely. Check back frequently for updates.
Brevard now under Tropical Storm Warning
The National Hurricane Center Monday evening issued a Tropical Storm Warning for the Atlantic Coast from Georgia south to the Sebastian Inlet including Brevard County. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected, generally within 48 hours, The area was previously under a Tropical Storm Watch, which meant such conditions were considered possible. As of 11 pm EDT, Tropical Storm Idalia was lingering west of Cuba and was expected to become a hurricane at any time.
Atlas V Launch delayed “out of an abundance of caution”
United Launch Alliance delayed the planned Tuesday morning launch of the NROL-107 mission to roll the Atlas V rocket back to ULA’s vertical integration facility at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for protection from the approaching Tropical Storm Idalia.
“Out of an abundance of caution for personnel safety, a critical national security payload and the approaching Tropical Storm Idalia, the team made the decision to return the rocket and payload to the vertical integration facility (VIF),” the company said.
A new launch date was not immediately announced.
Cruises from Port Canaveral continue as scheduled
Port Canaveral has been placed in “Condition X-Ray” in advance of the arrival of winds from Idalia, but cruise operations are continuing as scheduled for now.
The U.S. Coast Guard captain of the port at noon Monday put the port in Condition X-Ray, meaning that sustained gale-force winds of at least 39 mph are predicted within 48 hours.
Port Canaveral officials said the port remains open, and is conducting normal operations, but anticipates limited waterside and vessel shoreside port operations could follow if conditions change.
Port officials said two cargo ships that were scheduled to deliver lumber to the port are holding off coming into port until the storm clears.
Idalia could leading to closing of Mather’s Bridge
In anticipation of increasing winds and declining weather conditions due to impending Tropical Storm/Hurricane Idalia, Mathers Bridge may be closed to boating traffic as early as 3 p.m. Tuesday, according to county officials.
Brevard County Public Works Department is actively monitoring wind speed projections for Idalia. A final decision will be made no later than Tuesday morning in order for the County’s contractor to respond in time. At tropical storm wind speeds, the bridge needs to be physically secured and tied down and it takes several hours to do so. Given the current timeline and current windspeed projections, County officials want to put the boating public on notice that current wind speeds are very close to a closure decision and want to make sure that ample time is afforded so that efforts by boaters to get from one side of the bridge to the other can be accommodated. If a decision is made to secure, Mathers bridge would not be reopened until storm conditions subside and bridge conditions can be assessed.
Mathers Bridge will remain open to motor vehicle traffic.
Idalia could impact local prep football games
Football teams for both Cocoa and Titusville high schools could be impacted Friday by as Idalia’s path affects travel plans.
The Tigers are scheduled to host Venice, but Sarasota County schools will be out Tuesday and Wednesday as Idalia hovers in the Gulf of Mexico. Current forecasts predict the storm will make landfall north of Tampa. Cocoa head coach Ryan Schneider said the two schools are in touch and monitoring the situation.
It’s a similar story for the Titusville High football team, which is scheduled to travel to play Jacksonville-area Yulee. Athletic director Jason Berley said that game was on as of midday Monday, depending on the outcome of the weather.
Check 321preps.com for scheduling updates for football and other high school sports.
Brevard Emergency Management offers Facebook live update
In a Facebook live broadcast video stream Monday afternoon, Sheriff Wayne Ivey spoke with Emergency Operations Center director John Scott about the possible effects of Idalia on the county and the EOC’s level of preparedness. “We’re well out of the cone, but all of the weather from this storm is going to be on the east side of the cone, so we’re going to see some winds from that,” Scott said.
County monitoring storm; no evacuations ordered
Brevard County emergency officials are urging residents to prepare themselves ahead of Tropical Storm Idalia’s approach. “As we continue to monitor the progress of Tropical Storm Idalia, we want to remind residents to be prepared for impacts even though we are not currently in the predicted cone,” county spokesman Don Walker said.
County officials are continuing to have regular briefings over the possible impacts of the storm and how they can help best manage the local response. Currently, emergency officials are urging residents to follow a few basic tenets ahead of the storm:
- DO NOT trim trees or bushes as debris can become dangerous projectiles in high winds
- DO NOT stack yard waste near a stormwater drain; this can cause flooding
- DO bring loose yard decor including toys, sports equipment, and lawn furniture indoors
BPS has not canceled classes
Brevard Public Schools officials continue to monitor Tropical Storm Idalia, though the district has not made any moves to cancel classes.
The district is providing updates on their Facebook and X, formerly Twitter, accounts.
Idalia not expected to interfere with Tuesday launch
Weather around Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Tuesday should be mostly favorable for the liftoff of United Launch Alliance’s second mission of the year despite Tropical Storm Idalia brewing off the southwest coast of Florida.
At the Cape’s Launch Complex 41, ULA teams are preparing an Atlas V rocket with a classified national security payload for an 8:34 a.m. EDT liftoff.
Extreme high tides could amplify Idalia’s impact
Even from afar, Tropical Storm Idalia puts Brevard County’s beaches and sea turtles at risk, as it rides our way right when something that happens once in a blue moon and not again this century: a blue “supermoon.”
Idalia will hit Florida as the moon is at its closest to Florida, making high tide higher and therefore storm surge in Idalia’s path that much more severe. While the storm’s approach from the west will spare the Space Coast the severe erosion the Gulf Coast faces, the higher-than-usual seas could add to the otherwise modest erosion risk here.
Check back for more updates.
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