category 3 hurricane, it has the legs to withstand moving across this region into the carolinas and for the mid-atlantic. certainly is the potential there that that could happen. but the water temperature is much colder on that side compared to what we're seeing in the gulf of mexico. i hope that you are making plans to keep your family safe, your pets safe and seeking higher ground. because this is going to be some pretty widespread damage due to storm surge, the potential for tornadoes, downed trees, downed power lines. so protect yourself. i'll be back at the bottom of the hour with more information then. >> karen, thank you. national hurricane center is classifying it or using the phrasing that it is expected to rapidly intensify into an extremely dangerous major hurricane before making landfall on wednesday. so we'll watch for some of that expected intensification. florida officials are warning the effects of now hurricane idalia could be