Hurricane Idalia intensified into a perilous Category 3 storm as it advances towards Florida’s Big Bend vicinity, carrying the potential to bring about life-threatening storm surges and heavy rainfall.
Anticipated to make landfall early Wednesday, Idalia is expected to arrive as a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of at least 130 mph (209 kph) in the sparsely populated Big Bend region—a geographical area where the Florida Panhandle meets the peninsula. This forecasted impact could deliver a significant blow to a state that is still grappling with the aftermath of last year’s Hurricane Ian.
The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has described Hurricane Idalia as an “unprecedented event,” as no major hurricanes in recorded history have traversed through the bay adjoining the Big Bend region.
NEW: Storm surge already invading the roads of Cedar Key, Florida well ahead of Hurricane Idalia. 12-16 feet of storm surge expected @accuweather pic.twitter.com/jXIeluVGXK
— Reed Timmer, PhD (@ReedTimmerUSA) August 30, 2023
