The National Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane watch for Florida’s Gulf Coast from Anclote River to the Okaloosa/Walton County line as Tropical Storm Idalia approaches. The storm is expected to turn into a hurricane by Monday night and has already begun to spread winds of up to 60 mph along the western coast of Florida, from Pinellas to Collier County. Mandatory evacuations also have been ordered for Franklin, Gulf, and Taylor counties. Residents of the area are urged to begin preparations, especially those on the coast, and take the necessary steps to ensure their safety.
