PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Hurricanes Idalia and Franklin are not expected to hit the Delaware or New Jersey shores directly, but there is potential for coastal flooding issues.
Both storms could push water onto roads and sidewalks throughout the week. Cape May County is under a coastal flood advisory.
Idalia has gained strength in the Gulf of Mexico. It is expected to hit Florida's west coast on Wednesday. Forecasters say that the area around Tampa is expected to feel the worst effects of the storm.
"Now it's forecast to become a Category 3 hurricane and coming into a very vulnerable part of the Gulf of Mexico and a city in Tampa that's been pressing its luck with hurricanes now for decades," said meteorologist Rob Marciano.
Hurricane watches have also been issued up and down Florida's west coast and the panhandle.
Florida's emergency management director, Kevin Guthrie, is asking people in the line of the storm to start getting ready.
"We encourage every Floridian along the Gulf coast to begin enacting their emergency preparedness plans now. Now's not necessarily the time to write a plan; now it's time to action a plan," Guthrie said.
Portions of Georgia and the Carolinas are expected to see heavy rain later this week from the storm.