Hurricane Idalia Strikes Florida as Category 3 Storm, Causing Widespread Destruction and Flooding
STEINHATCHEE, Florida, Aug 30 (Reuters) – Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida on Wednesday as an “extremely dangerous” Category 3 storm, bringing destructive winds and heavy rainfall that resulted in widespread destruction and flooding. The storm surge along the state’s Gulf Coast was forecasted to reach depths of up to 16 feet (4.88 m).
Idalia hit Keaton Beach, a community of 13,000 people in Taylor County, at 7:45 a.m. EDT (1145 GMT), located about 75 miles (121 km) southeast of Tallahassee. County Commissioner Jamie English reported strong winds, power outages, and flying debris in the area.
Videos shared on social media showed the intensity of the storm, with heavy downpours and trees swaying violently in the wind. An electrical line sparked along the side of a roadway, adding to the dangerous conditions.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami reported that Idalia had reached an “extremely dangerous Category 4 intensity” overnight before weakening slightly to a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (201 km). Any storm reaching Category 3 or higher is considered a major hurricane.
The Big Bend region, where the storm made landfall, is sparsely populated compared to the more densely populated Tampa-St. Petersburg area. The area features a marshy coast, freshwater springs, and rivers, as well as small offshore islands like Cedar Key, which was devastated by a hurricane’s storm surge in 1896.
Residents in the path of the storm faced life-threatening conditions, with storm surge warnings posted for hundreds of miles of shoreline. The surge could rise as high as 16 feet (4.9 m), according to the NHC. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis urged residents to seek shelter in three-story buildings if they were in areas at risk of a high storm surge.
Most of Florida’s 21 million residents, as well as residents in Georgia and South Carolina, were under hurricane warnings and other storm-related advisories. State emergency declarations were issued in all three states.
In addition to the destructive winds and flooding, Idalia was expected to bring heavy rainfall to Florida’s Gulf Coast, southeastern Georgia, and eastern parts of North and South Carolina. The hurricane center warned of 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm) of rain, with isolated areas potentially seeing up to a foot of rain (30 cm).
President Joe Biden and Governor DeSantis were in constant contact about storm preparations, with Biden set to speak about the government’s hurricane response efforts later on Wednesday.
Idalia developed into a hurricane on Tuesday after passing west of Cuba, where it caused damage, power outages, and flooding. This marks the fourth major hurricane to strike Florida in the past seven years, following Irma in 2017, Michael in 2018, and Ian in 2022.
School districts in Florida canceled classes, and Tampa International Airport suspended commercial operations ahead of the storm. The state mobilized over 5,500 National Guard members and had 30,000 to 40,000 electricity workers on standby. Additionally, 1.1 million gallons of gasoline were set aside to address fuel supply interruptions.
As the storm continues to impact the region, authorities are urging residents to stay safe and follow evacuation orders to protect themselves from the dangerous conditions.
What were the risks and damages posed by the storm surge along Florida’s Gulf Coast during Hurricane Idalia
Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Steinhatchee, Florida on Wednesday as a Category 3 storm, causing significant destruction and flooding throughout the region. With winds reaching destructive speeds and heavy rainfall, the storm resulted in widespread damage and power outages.
Idalia hit Keaton Beach, a community of 13,000 people in Taylor County, at 7:45 a.m. EDT. County Commissioner Jamie English reported that strong winds and flying debris were causing hazardous conditions in the area.
Videos shared on social media showcased the intensity of the storm, with heavy downpours and trees swaying violently in the wind. Additionally, an electrical line sparked along the side of a roadway, further adding to the dangerous situation.
The storm surge along Florida’s Gulf Coast was expected to reach depths of up to 16 feet, posing a significant risk to coastal communities. The Big Bend region, where the storm made landfall, is less densely populated compared to other areas in Florida, but still faced significant damage. The marshy coast, freshwater springs, and rivers in the region, as well as offshore islands like Cedar Key, were particularly affected by the storm surge.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami reported that Idalia had initially reached an “extremely dangerous Category 4 intensity” before weakening slightly to a Category 3 storm. With maximum sustained winds of 125 mph, Idalia remains a major hurricane, posing threats to communities even as it weakens.
