Hurricane Idalia: Tracking LSU-Florida State game status as weather threatens season opener
The biggest game of the SEC's 2023 season-opening schedule — No. 5 LSU vs. No. 8 FSU in Orlando, Florida — is in jeopardy as Tropical Storm Idalia bears down on the Sunshine State.
The Tigers' much-heralded rematch against the Seminoles, to whom they lost in the 2022 season opener, is under threat of postponement or being canceled outright. Idalia made landfall on Wednesday as a Category 4 hurricane, with the most-affected areas being the panhandle and parts of central Florida.
Here's everything you need to know about Idalia and its potential effect on the LSU-Florida State game in Orlando:
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Hurricane Idalia college football game updates
LSU vs. Florida State
All times Central
Wednesday, Aug. 30
3:50 p.m.: Idalia has been downgraded to a tropical storm, though it still presents risk of flooding and strong winds in parts of Georgia and the Carolinas, per the National Hurricane Center.
Tropical Storm #Idalia Advisory 17: Idalia Now a Tropical Storm. Risk of Freshwater Flooding, Storm Surge, and Strong Winds Continues Across Portions of Georgia and the Carolinas. https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 30, 2023
4:11 a.m.: Idalia has been reclassified as a Category 4 hurricane, per the National Hurricane Center.
5am EDT 30 Aug: #Idalia has become an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane, and is nearing landfall in Florida Big Bend region this morning. Catastrophic & life-threatening impacts from Storm Surge & Winds expected as Idalia moves ashore. https://t.co/y75tVkKVK7 pic.twitter.com/0NfINii9Mo
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 30, 2023
Tuesday, Aug. 29
3:56 p.m.: Idalia has been reclassified as a Category 2 hurricane, capable of creating life-threatening conditions on Tuesday into Wednesday.
Hurricane #Idalia Advisory 13: Idalia Now a Category 2 Hurricane. Life-Threatening Storm Surge and Hurricane Conditions Expected Along Portions of the Gulf Coast of Florida Tonight and Wednesday. https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 29, 2023
8:54 a.m.: The National Weather Service provided another update to Idalia on Tuesday, warning of life-threatening flood potential and high-speed winds. The areas that will be most affected are along the Florida Gulf Coast:
#Idalia update 🧵 1/4
There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge along portions of the FL Gulf Coast where a Storm Surge Warning is in effect. Inundation of 8-12ft above ground level is expected somewhere between Chassahowitzka & Aucilla River. Follow officials' advice. pic.twitter.com/YE4Oj3hHDK— National Weather Service (@NWS) August 29, 2023
Monday, Aug. 28
1:48 p.m.: Kelly, speaking to reporters at his Monday news conference, appeared not to be worried about the potential effect Idalia could have on the LSU-Florida State game:
“We’re just tracking it like everybody else," Kelly said. "The latest model for us has the storm being passed out to sea and that there’ll be some light winds on the back end of it.
“We’re gonna keep a close track on it. We’ll start wet ball drills to prepare for it but we’ll watch it just like everybody else. Unless something drastic happens in the next 24-48 hours it looks like it’s clearly gonna pass through and there will be heavy rain through that area. It should be out to sea by the time we get there.”
10:57 a.m.: Florida State coach Mike Norvell told reporters on Monday he does not feel Idalia will impact the Seminoles' game vs. the Tigers:
"It's obviously something that we're tracking for the guys here," Norvell said. "We have great communication from the university, athletic department and all the things we're aware of. We'll always have plans if we have to adapt and adjust.
"It's not something that at this time we think is going to make a huge impact for this week or what that would be toward the end of the week toward the game."
10:41 a.m.: Neither of LSU or Florida State has announced any change in plans for the teams' scheduled kickoff at 6:30 p.m. CT. The SEC and ACC have yet to comment on the game, either. As of now, the game will continue as planned in Orlando's Camping World Stadium.
That said, Florida State University on Monday said it was monitoring Idalia and "will take appropriate actions should conditions warrant" them for its Tallahassee campus.
A report by the NWS indicates adverse weather conditions could begin as early as late Tuesday on the west coast of Florida and in the panhandle, including "life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force."
Idalia is now forecast to become a major hurricane before it reaches the Gulf coast of Florida. The risk continues to increase for life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force winds along portions of the west coast of Florida and the Florida Panhandle beginning as… pic.twitter.com/OTmqIAtGht
— National Weather Service (@NWS) August 28, 2023
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Hurricane Idalia: Tracking LSU-Florida State game status