Tampa battened down for Idalia, JAXPORT, Charleston prepare

Idalia is intensifying and expected to hit Florida's northern Gulf Coast as a Category 3 hurricane Wednesday. Though current projections have the center of the storm landing north of Tampa, Idalia could cause record storm surge levels in the bay area before cutting across the northeast part of the state near Jacksonville.

Carnival Paradise and Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas are the next ships scheduled to call Tampa, on Thursday.

JAXPORT

JAXPORT remained open Tuesday with Port Condition Zulu (12 hours to gale force winds) to start at 8 p.m.

Carnival Elation is anticipated to return to JAXPORT on Thursday, though its arrival time could be delayed.

Port Canaveral

Port Canaveral went to Port Condition Yankee (24 hours to gale force winds) at noon Tuesday. The next scheduled cruise call is MSC Seaside on Thursday.

Charleston

Idalia's current track has it passing over the Georgia and South Carolina coasts Wednesday night/Thursday. Storm preparations were under way in Charleston, where Carnival Sunshine is the next scheduled cruise call, on Sept. 2, well after the storm.