Idalia's wrath continues across Carolinas with life-threatening flooding following historic Florida landfall
The Category 3 storm made landfall on the coast of Florida's Big Bend near Keaton Beach at 7:45 a.m. on Wednesday. With its 125 mph winds and significant flooding, it posed an immediate threat to lives and properties.
2 AM Update: Tropical Storm Idalia producing heavy rainfall across North Carolina
After impacting Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, Idalia produced flooding over North Carolina.
KEATON BEACH, Fla. – After Hurricane Idalia made its historic landfall along Florida's Gulf Coast, Idalia swamped Georgia and the Carolinas with flooding before its exit in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Category 3 storm made landfall on the coast of Florida's Big Bend near Keaton Beach at 7:45 a.m. on Wednesday. With its 125 mph winds and significant flooding, it posed an immediate threat to lives and properties. The cyclone has since weakened to a tropical storm with winds of 60 mph as it lashes communities north of Charleston, S.C.
Watch: Powerful winds from Hurricane Idalia send trees, debris flying through the air in Perry, Florida
Dramatic video recorded in the eyewall of Hurricane Idalia shows trees and other debris flying through the air as the Category 3 hurricane was making landfall with 125 mph winds early Wednesday morning.
While Governor Ron DeSantis told media Wednesday afternoon during a news conference that there were no confirmed fatalities, the Florida Highway Patrol said two men died in separate rain-related crashes in Gainesville and Pasco County due to Idalia. One man’s pickup truck swerved and crashed into a tree, while the other man lost control and hit a tree with his truck.
DRONE VIDEO REVEALS DAMAGE, FLOODING FROM HURRICANE IDALIA LANDFALL NEAR KEATON BEACH
The FOX Forecast Center said Idalia was the strongest hurricane to strike the Big Bend area – especially near Cedar Key – in 125 years, dating back to an unnamed 1896 storm.
The governor said he believes Hurricane Ian was more deadly because of the path of the storm, and people evacuated when Idalia's storm surge was forecast to be between 10 and 15 feet.
"I can tell you with Hurricane Ian, as soon as that storm hit, within an hour after hitting, there were frantic phone calls to 911 locally there of people that were literally drowning in their house," DeSantis recalled of Lee County, Florida, where Ian made landfall.
"I think part of it is that when you see storm surge of that nature like we saw during Ian, I think a lot of people really heeded the warnings that their local officials issued because, you know, you can't hide from the storm surge in your house," DeSantis said.
Tropical Storm Idalia charges east through Georgia, Carolinas
After lashing Florida’s Gulf Coast with threatening storm surge and extreme winds, Idalia rushed inland, triggering rare Extreme Wind Warnings for four counties north of the Big Bend, including a swath of Interstate 10.
(FOX Weather)
Idalia roared into southern Georgia still threatening hurricane-force gusts. Valdosta hit a gust of 67 mph and was under a rare Flash Flooding Emergency, the FOX Forecast Center reports.
DRAMATIC PHOTOS, VIDEO CAPTURE HURRICANE IDALIA'S HISTORIC LANDFALL IN FLORIDA
Florida's streets flood as storm surge rises
Before the monstrous storm's arrival, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) cautioned that Idalia's storm surge could reach heights of 16 feet in some locations near the storm center, setting modern records.
![Ken Kruse looks out at the flood waters from Hurricane Idalia surrounding his apartment complex on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida.]()
Image 1 of 17Ken Kruse looks out at the flood waters from Hurricane Idalia surrounding his apartment complex on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. (Joe Raedle)
![David Rudd helps Steve Odom, left, carry a kayak onto his porch through the flooded streets caused by Hurricane Idalia passing offshore on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida.]()
Image 2 of 17David Rudd helps Steve Odom, left, carry a kayak onto his porch through the flooded streets caused by Hurricane Idalia passing offshore on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. (Joe Raedle)
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Image 3 of 17A truck passes through flooded streets caused by Hurricane Idalia passing offshore on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. (Joe Raedle)
![A boardwalk at the Clearwater Harbor Marina in Clearwater, Florida, is flooded by the rising tide on August 30, 2023, after Hurricane Idalia made landfall.]()
Image 4 of 17A boardwalk at the Clearwater Harbor Marina in Clearwater, Florida, is flooded by the rising tide on August 30, 2023, after Hurricane Idalia made landfall. (Photo by Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
![Heavy rain fall at the Clearwater Harbor Marina in Clearwater, Florida, on August 30, 2023, after Hurricane Idalia made landfall.]()
Image 5 of 17Heavy rain fall at the Clearwater Harbor Marina in Clearwater, Florida, on August 30, 2023, after Hurricane Idalia made landfall. Idalia barreled into the northwest Florida coast as a powerful Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday morning, the US National Hurricane Center said. (Photo by Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
![Cars sit in flood waters from Hurricane Idalia after it passed offshore on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Hurricane Idalia is hitting the Big Bend area of Florida.]()
Image 6 of 17Cars sit in flood waters from Hurricane Idalia after it passed offshore on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Hurricane Idalia is hitting the Big Bend area of Florida. (Joe Raedle)
![People wade through flood waters from Hurricane Idalia after it passed offshore on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Hurricane Idalia is hitting the Big Bend area of Florida.]()
Image 7 of 17People wade through flood waters from Hurricane Idalia after it passed offshore on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Hurricane Idalia is hitting the Big Bend area of Florida. (Joe Raedle)
![Makatla Ritchter wades through flood waters after having to evacuate her home when the flood waters from Hurricane Idalia inundated it on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Hurricane Idalia is hitting the Big Bend area of Florida.]()
Image 8 of 17Makatla Ritchter wades through flood waters after having to evacuate her home when the flood waters from Hurricane Idalia inundated it on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Hurricane Idalia is hitting the Big Bend area of Florida. (Joe Raedle)
![The Tampa Police Department is out assessing the damage and flooding from Idalia on Wednesday after making landfall in Florida.]()
Image 9 of 17The Tampa Police Department is out assessing the damage and flooding from Idalia on Wednesday after making landfall in Florida. (City of Tampa)
![High water from Hurricane Idalia storm surge surrounds Tower 1 on Clearwater Beach on Aug. 30, 2023.]()
Image 10 of 17High water from Hurricane Idalia storm surge surrounds Tower 1 on Clearwater Beach on Aug. 30, 2023. (Image: Clearwater Police Department) ( )
![Roads along the Bayfront and in the downtown Sarasota area have been flooding due to Hurricane Idalia.]()
Image 11 of 17Roads along the Bayfront and in the downtown Sarasota area have been flooding due to Hurricane Idalia. (Sarasota Police Department/X)
![Roads in Sanibel, Florida, were experiencing heavy flooding and debris coverage Wednesday morning.]()
Image 12 of 17Roads in Sanibel, Florida, were experiencing heavy flooding and debris coverage Wednesday morning. (Sanibel Fire Rescue District / Facebook)
![The roadway was cleared outside Troll Music in Venice, Florida, on Wednesday morning as Hurricane Idalia moved onshore.]()
Image 13 of 17The roadway was cleared outside Troll Music in Venice, Florida, on Wednesday morning as Hurricane Idalia moved onshore. (Venice, Florida Municipal Government / Facebook)
![Hurricane Ian Slams Into West Coast Of Florida]()
Image 14 of 17FILE -- SARASOTA, FL - SEPTEMBER 28: Wind gusts blow across the John Ringling Causeway as Hurricane Ian churns to the south on September 28, 2022 in Sarasota, Florida. The storm made a U.S. landfall at Cayo Costa, Florida this afternoon as a Category 4 hurricane with wind speeds over 140 miles per hour in some areas. (Sean Rayford)
![ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - AUGUST 30: Vehicles sit in a flooded street caused by Hurricane Idalia passing offshore on August 30, 2023 in St. Petersburg, Florida. Hurricane Idalia is hitting the Big Bend area of Florida.]()
Image 15 of 17ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - AUGUST 30: Vehicles sit in a flooded street caused by Hurricane Idalia passing offshore on August 30, 2023 in St. Petersburg, Florida. Hurricane Idalia is hitting the Big Bend area of Florida. (Joe Raedle)
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Image 16 of 17Sheriff's deputies found this snake headed for higher ground after Idalia flooded Pasco County. "Stay out of the foodwaters" reminded the office on social media. Several commenters identified the snake as a venomous Eastern rattlesnake. (Hernando County Sheriff's Office)
![Tree that fell onto a road and power line in Florida.]()
Image 17 of 17Tree that fell onto a road and power line in Florida. (@MyFDOT_NEFL / X)
Just after sunrise, Cedar Key, Florida, reported 6.07 feet of storm surge during astronomical low tide, and forecasters expect a higher value as Idalia churns more inland. This is the second-highest level ever observed behind Hurricane Hermine of 6.10 feet.
Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue said more than 700 crew members are using heavy equipment to reopen roads and inspect bridges in Big Bend and North Florida, as well as restoring traffic lights.
"One thing that we noticed as we were surveying the area traffic signals are definitely out of power here in this area," Perdue said. "We have generators in route. We're going to be getting generators set up to get those signals powered up as quickly as possible."
FOX WEATHER'S ROBERT RAY BLASTED WITH STRONG WINDS, FLOODING WHILE REPORTING ON HURRICANE IDALIA
A look at Hurricane Idalia's peak storm surge Wednesday morning.
(FOX Weather)
On Wednesday morning, floodwater submerged a mobile home park in St. Petersburg. The National Guard dispatched over 100 soldiers and high-water vehicles to assist in affected counties.
According to St. Petersburg city officials, fire rescue crews rescued more than 75 people from flooding on Wednesday.
Treasure Island was also covered in floodwaters as Idalia's storm surge pushed inland, and officials were still worried about waters rising during high tide around midday, with significant flooding forecast to continue throughout the day.
Storm surge batters Treasure Island on Wednesday morning with numerous reports of flooding.
(@TresIslandFL / X)
Idalia causes power outages for over 650,000
During the height of the storm over 650,000 power outages were reported with the majority of reports coming from Wakulla, Taylor, Dixie and Levy counties near landfall – areas where some residents decided to remain in their homes despite evacuation orders in at least 30 counties placed in a state of emergency.
More than 210,000 outages have been reported in Georgia as Idalia slams the state.
Watch: Boathouse collapses due to effects of Hurricane Idalia
Video shows a boathouse collapsing during Hurricane Idalia in Steinhatchee, Florida on Wednesday, August 30, 2023.
Days leading up to Idalia's arrival, resources were prepositioned as President Joe Biden approved Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration.
Inside Idalia's eyewall
During Idalia's landfall, an impressive convective burst and abundant lightning were seen within its eye wall.
The Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) released satellite images of the storm approaching Florida.
(CSU/CIRA & NOAA / FOX Weather)
Brian Emfinger, a storm chaser with Live Storms Media, experienced Idalia's landfall in Keaton Beach. He reported that the front of the eye wall contained strong winds. Although a wind gauge recorded a gust of 83 mph before toppling, Emfinger estimated gusts over 100 mph.
WATCH: VIDEO SHOWS HURRICANE IDALIA'S DANGEROUS STORM SURGE OVERWHELMING CLEARWATER, FLORIDA
After the eye passed, the winds returned with even more ferocity, blowing onshore and bringing a wall of water with it. Emfinger noted that the storm surge arrived quickly with the back eyewall, rising several feet in just a few minutes.
Charleston, North Carolina not spared
Tide levels rose to 9.23 feet in Charleston Harbor, which was the observation site’s fifth-highest peak in history, according to the National Weather Service.
The level was short of storm surges created during hurricanes Mathew, Irma and Hugo but led to flooded streets and dune erosion along beaches.
The FOX Forecast Center said that the combination of Idalia, swells from Franklin and the influences from the stage of the moon are creating the perfect event for flooding around Charleston and other low-lying communities in the Carolinas.
There were no reported injuries on Wednesday evening, but several cars appeared to be stuck in the high water.
Downtown Charleston underwater courtesy of Idalia
Winds, rain, king tides and Idalia's storm surge was the perfect recipe for inundating downtown Charleston. The Mayor told FOX Weather that the city is 80% done building a higher seawall to prevent flooding like this.