Rip current deaths are on the rise, which is why learning what to do if you get caught in one is an important lesson. Across the country from 2017-2023, there have been 435 rip current deaths; 143 of them happening in Florida. The most of any state.
Lee County has been providing updates on the status of now-Hurricane Idalia since Monday afternoon, when a state of emergency was declared for the county. As of Tuesday morning, the National Hurricane Center announced Idalia strengthened from a tropical storm to a hurricane and is expected to rapidly intensify later today.