Hurricane Idalia is now a dangerous Category 4 and as of 10pm Wednesday NZST the storm was just hours away from making landfall. Landfall is when the centre of the hurricane crosses land – not just the outer bands, which are now moving into western Florida with gusts over 100km/h.

Sustained winds of 209km/h and gusts to 257km/h are at the centre of the storm.

Landfall is likely before dawn Thursday NZST.

View CNN’s interactive Storm Tracker here.

Current wind map for #HurricaneIDALIA.

This map indicates SUSTAINED winds, not gusts.
Winds are currently 209km/h gusting 257km/h.

🇳🇿10:15pm NZST
🇺🇸6:15am Tallahassee
🇺🇸5:15am Pensacola #Florida #FL pic.twitter.com/VkfKKEOzfQ

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) August 30, 2023

Clearwater Beach right now.

📷: Michael Brantley#Idalia pic.twitter.com/MeJeIxCTOF

— Greg Dee (@GregDeeWeather) August 30, 2023

🚨🌀#Breaking: 🇺🇸 #HurricaneIDALIA now a Category 4️⃣ storm as it barrels toward #Florida.

Live updates via CNN: https://t.co/spZ12W76Kc

Live Storm Tracker: https://t.co/6Ds6mQZlb4 pic.twitter.com/QNMvFu7UPK

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) August 30, 2023

WeatherWatch.co.nz / A CNN Weather affiliate.