Residents of Pinellas County are being advised to take immediate action and seek shelter before noon as Hurricane Idalia approaches. St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch emphasized the urgency of the situation during a briefing on Thursday morning.
Mayor Welch highlighted the potential dangers of remaining outdoors after the noon cutoff, warning of increased impacts from storm surge and strong winds. The storm surge is projected to reach 5 to 8 feet, surpassing previous storms in terms of severity.
