Hurricanes

Idalia is getting closer to Florida and is now a Category two hurricane with winds of 100 mph. It is still expected to bring a big flood threat, storm surge risk, damaging wind risk and tornado threat to a big portion of Florida, especially the Florida Big Bend. Landfall is likely Wednesday morning as a major Category three hurricane with 125 mph winds around the Big Bend of Florida. Tropical storm conditions are expected all the way over to Jacksonville and eventually up around the Carolinas where Tropical Storm Warnings are in place. Franklin is still a major hurricane that will pass west of Bermuda where Tropical Storm warnings are in place. Tropical Depression 11 has formed in the central Atlantic. There's also a tropical wave near the west coast of Africa with a medium chance for development over the next week. Stay alert as we are now in the busiest part of hurricane season!

Idalia has strengthened into a hurricane with 13 million Floridians under weather watches and warnings and people in nearly two dozen coastal counties told to evacuate. Forecasters expect the storm to keep gaining strength. FOX News Correspondent Rebekah Castor has more from Pinellas County, Florida.

Idalia is close to becoming a hurricane today and is expected to strengthen to a major Category three hurricane by early Wednesday. Hurricane warnings are in place for parts of the Florida Gulf Coast, including Tampa Bay. Idalia is projected to make landfall around the Big Bend of Florida Wednesday morning bringing up to a foot of rain, storm surge up to 7-11 feet NW of Tampa, damaging winds & the threat for tornadoes. Hurricane Franklin has grown into a dangerous category 4 hurricane in the western Atlantic. It should remain over water but will get close to Bermuda early Wednesday where Tropical Storm Watches are in effect. Another tropical wave coming off the coast of Africa has a medium chance to develop into a tropical system over the next week.

Meteorologist John Dawson provides essential safety reminders for those considering buying a chainsaw to deal with potential fallen trees in their neighborhood after a hurricane's landfall.

You may be considering a chainsaw for your hurricane toolkit to clear downed trees after a storm. FOX 26 Meteorologist John Dawson shares some safety reminders.

If you are in Florida, now is the time to prepare for Idalia. Hurricane Watches are up for parts of the west coast. In other Atlantic news, Franklin will some be a major hurricane.

Tropical Depression Ten has form and will be headed to Florida this week. Franklin is now a hurricane and expected to organize into a major hurricane this week.

Trouble could be brewing for the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Invest 93-L is now over the NW Caribbean with a high 80% chance to develop into a tropical system over the next 7 days. It should pass through the Yucatan Channel this weekend and emerge into the eastern Gulf of Mexico Monday. Models take it up towards the northern Florida Coast by Tuesday. Tropical Storm Franklin is expected to grow into a hurricane early next week as it brushes by Bermuda. A few other tropical waves in the central Atlantic are being monitored for development.

We are about a week away from the month of September which is the typical peak of hurricane season. As expected, the tropics are heating up with several systems I'm monitoring. There's an area of low pressure over Central America that could track into the NW Caribbean and eventually the eastern Gulf of Mexico early next week. Tropical Storm Franklin is east of the Turks and Caicos Islands and will develop into a hurricane as it gets close to Bermuda early next week. Two additional tropical waves in the eastern & central Atlantic will need to be watched as they both have a medium chance for development.

Are you prepared for hurricane season? FOX 26's Sherman Desselle reports on items to include in your hurricane kit and where to get them at different price points.

Harold has weakened to a Tropical Depression with 35 mph winds near Laredo. But Harold was a Tropical Storm this morning when it made landfall around Padre Island with 50 mph winds near 10 AM. Harold brought 3-6" of rain for parts of south Texas with isolated higher amounts and will push into SW Texas and northern Mexico tonight and early Wednesday with a continued flood threat. Spotty downpours are possible for the Houston area through early tonight with just isolated rain possible for the rest of the week. Another Tropical Storm, Franklin, is south of Haiti & the Dominican Republic where tropical storm warnings are in effect. A few additional tropical waves are being monitored in the central and eastern part of the Atlantic.

The tropics have blown up over the last week with several systems we are watching, including a newly formed tropical depression in the Gulf. Tropical Depression #9 is expected to reach the south Texas Gulf coast by Tuesday morning as a tropical storm with 45 mph winds. It should make landfall between Corpus Christi and Brownsville, crossing over Laredo by Tuesday afternoon. The heaviest rain and flood threat should stay south of Houston along with the strongest winds. However, coastal Jackson and Matagorda counties are under a tropical storm watch where winds could gust over 40 mph there and some heavier rain will likely fall. Houston will have more clouds and about a 40% chance for scattered showers and storms. Tropical Storm Franklin will bring heavy rain to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. We are also still tracking Tropical Storm Gert, Post-Tropical Storm Emily and another tropical wave in the Atlantic. The busiest part of hurricane season is here so stay alert

FOX 26 Meteorologist John Dawson gives us a look at the Streamlight Syclone Jr. in this Hurricane Gear Test.