Hurricane Idalia rapidly intensifies through Tuesday; what to expect for Central Virginia

LYNCHBURG, Va. (WSET) — Hurricane Idalia will be making landfall along Florida's Big Bend by Wednesday. The storm has entered the incredibly warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and is anticipated to intensify from a Category 1 hurricane to a Major, Category 3, Hurricane throughout the day today.

The National Hurricane Center has issued Storm Surge warnings from Tampa Bay to the Big Bend region of Florida, with warnings of life-threatening storm surge and inland flooding. The main factor that takes lives during hurricanes is the storm surge and flooding, but that's not to discredit the power of hurricane-force winds.

Wind will be destructive at landfall, current forecast puts sustained winds at 120 mph.

Once Idalia makes landfall, it will move to the east. Bringing high rain totals across the Carolinas through Thursday. As Idalia rapidly intensifies in the warm Gulf of Mexico, it will wobble around. Any western wobbles that stick, could increase the potential for rain further north. This would increase rain chances in Virginia.

For Virginia, on the current track, we will be clouded up, but it is too close for comfort to say we will not get any rain. Rain and wind will be a potential for early Wednesday.

The ABC 13 weather team will watch closely for any changes in the forecast and will keep you posted with updates.