We’re wrapping up our live coverage now. You can read our full story by my colleagues Richard Luscombe and Maya Yang here:
Along South Carolina’s coast, North Myrtle Beach, Garden City, and Edisto Island have each seen ocean water flowing over sand dunes and spilling onto beachfront streets Wednesday evening, the Associated Press reports.
Preliminary data showed the Wednesday evening high tide reached just over 9.2 feet (2.8 meters), more than 3 feet (0.9 meters) above normal and the fifth-highest reading in Charleston Harbor since records were first kept in 1899.
More from that Reuters insurance story:
Citizens Property Insurance Corp, Florida’s non-profit, state-backed insurance provider that is seen as an “insurer of last resort”, has been gaining market share since 2022 as primary insurers reduce their exposure to the Florida market, UBS said in its note.
Citizens said on Wednesday it is well-capitalized to fund claims from policy holders whose properties are damaged by storms.
“There’s no issue with us paying claims to policy holders,” said Michael Peltier, a spokesperson for Citizens Property Insurance.
Berkshire Hathaway Vice Chairman Ajit Jain said in May that he was happy with the reinsurance the conglomerate had written, but that Berkshire had an “unbalanced portfolio” and a big Florida hurricane would cause a “very substantial loss,” according to a CNBC transcript of the event.
Berkshire did not respond to a request for comment.
Florida has a large number of very small, thinly capitalised insurers, insurance experts told Reuters.
Some insurance firms including Farmers Insurance, Bankers Insurance and Lexington Insurance, a unit of AIG, have already pulled out of Florida because of the risk of heavy losses, according to a July USA Today report.
A spokesperson for Farmers on Wednesday said that it had notified the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation of its decision to discontinue offering Farmers-branded auto, home, and umbrella policies in the state.
“This business decision was necessary to effectively manage risk exposure,” the spokesperson said. “Farmers offers insurance through several different brands, and this decision applies only to policies issued through our exclusive agency distribution channel.”
Lexington/AIG declined to comment, while Bankers Insurance did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Reuters has spoken to Perry resident Thomas Demps, a Taylor County commissioner:
Demps, 80, let out a long, stunned whistle and several exclamations of “Oh, my!” as he walked around Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Perry on Wednesday afternoon.
The church took a beating, Perry said, with missing shingles, portions of outside walls torn away and water standing on the floor.
“This is the worst storm I’ve ever seen here, never seen it this bad,” said Demps, a retired industrial mechanic.
Here are some photos of the damage in Perry, Florida, a small, historic city about 15 miles inland from the coast where Hurricane Idalia made landfall:
More now on what Idalia means for Americ'a’s insurance companies, via Reuters:
“Historically, what happens when you have these hurricanes is that everyone gets worried about the liability following the hurricane,” said Thomas Hayes, chairman and managing member of Great Hill Capital LLC in New York, adding that insurers typically end up being able to raise prices after such events.
The impact could have a knock-on effect on reinsurers, which insure insurance companies, and have been raising rates in recent years because of steepening losses that industry players partly attribute to the impact of climate change. Higher reinsurance rates can affect the premiums that insurers charge their customers.
Nationally, US reinsurance rates for policies that had claims for natural catastrophes rose 30%-50% during July renewals, while in Florida the increase was 30%-40%, reinsurance broker Gallagher Re said in July.
Insurers were expected to face claims for billions of dollars from Hurricane Idalia, adding to a challenging year for the industry that could result in higher premiums for customers, Reuters reports.
In Florida, UBS bank estimated average insured losses of $9.36bn with a 50% chance of losses of over $4.05bn and a 10% likelihood of losses of $25.6bn, based on data from 28 August. The wide range reflects potential changes in the storm’s intensity and path.
At about $10bn, Idalia would cost insurers less than 10 of the costliest hurricanes to hit the United States.
The Associated Press has spoken to a resident in Perry, a mill town located just inland from the Big Bend region where Idalia came ashore.
“All hell broke loose,” Belond Thomas said.
Thomas, a 41-year-old worker at the town’s paper mill, fled with her family and some friends to a motel, thinking it would be safer than riding out the storm at home. But as Idalia‘s eye passed over about 8.30am, a loud whistling noise pierced the air and the high winds ripped the building’s roof off, sending debris down on her pregnant daughter, who was lying in bed. Fortunately, she was not injured.
“It was frightening,” Thomas said. “Things were just going so fast ... Everything was spinning.”
Updated
Chatham county to feel peak of storm between now and 9pm
Emergency services in Chatham county have warned residents to expect the most severe impacts from the tropical storm between now and 9pm. It is currently just past 8pm local time.
“The greatest impact to Chatham county could be rainfall, with predictions of one inch, coastal flooding, and rip currents. Areas prone to flooding are at risk of flooding with the arrival of Idalia. Tides at Fort Pulaski are predicted to be 10.1ft. A risk of severe weather, including tornadoes spawned by Idalia still exists. Potential of strong tropical storm winds with higher gusts,” Emergency Management Chatham county writes on its website.
It urges residents to ensure they are monitoring their phone and email for updates.
Updated
Hello, this is Helen Sullivan with the latest developments as Idalia hits the south-eastern United States.
Updated
Here are some more images of the flooding and damage from Idalia so far.
Officials warn that the storm surge will continue overnight, with flooding expected in the Carolinas.
The National Weather Service has warned: “Areas of flash, urban, and moderate river flooding, with considerable impacts, are expected from east central Georgia, through eastern South Carolina and eastern North Carolina into Thursday.”
5pm EDT #Idalia update:
— National Weather Service (@NWS) August 30, 2023
Storm surge is expected along the southeastern U.S. coast within the Storm Surge Warning area through tonight. Coastal flooding is also expected within the Storm Surge Watch area in North Carolina on Thursday. Residents in these areas should follow any… pic.twitter.com/0D3kB4CzSx
5PM EDT 30 Aug: There is a storm surge warning and a tropical storm warning in effect along the southeastern US coast. Coastal and inland flooding is expected in parts of Georgia and the Carolinas into Thursday. https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ pic.twitter.com/vHi9xfDqal
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 30, 2023
With searches 75% complete, no confirmed deaths in Florida
Florida officials said in a new update that the initial search and rescue operations were 75% complete and authorities so far had not confirmed any deaths.
“We are not finding anybody at home, so … many, many people heeded the warnings to evacuate,” Kevin Guthrie, director of Florida’s division of emergency management, said at a news briefing, CNN reported. He said the state had not tracked any reports of missing people from local police agencies.
Authorities earlier reported two traffic deaths, however, that may have been related to Idalia, including one man who lost control of his car and struck a tree.
Updated
Today so far
It’s early evening on the US east coast and here’s a summary of where things stand so far:
Hurricane Idalia made landfall shortly after daybreak with 160mph gusts near Keaton Beach on Florida’s Gulf coast.
As Idalia tore through Florida, the hurricane split trees in half, flooded roadways and ripped roofs off of buildings.
The hurricane also submerged the small coastal community of Steinhatchee and set record-high water levels across a wide area stretching 200 miles south of Tampa.
Idalia weakened to a tropical storm on Wednesday afternoon after tearing through the Big Bend region of Florida.
Officials say two people have died in car crashes – a 40-year-old motorist in Pasco county, north of Tampa, who collided with a tree after losing control of his car, and a 59-year-old in Gainesville.
More than 217,000 customers remained without power in Florida as of early Wednesday evening, according to poweroutage.us.
There have been more than a dozen tornado warnings and mandatory evacuation orders in at least 28 Florida counties.
A tree split and hit the governor’s mansion, but Ron DeSantis’s wife said no one was injured.
DeSantis said, “You loot, we shoot.”
Updated
Idalia weakens to tropical storm
Idalia has weakened to a tropical storm after tearing through the Big Bend region of Florida, officials said late on Wednesday afternoon, AP reports.
It was a category 3 hurricane when it made landfall near Keaton Beach in Florida early in the morning, but by the afternoon had weakened with winds of 70 mph (113km/h). The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has called Idalia “an unprecedented event”.
Idalia has weakened to a tropical storm after roaring into Florida's Big Bend region as a powerful Category 3 hurricane. https://t.co/L0qnxUkMHo
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 30, 2023
Updated
The National Hurricane Center has issued a warning on power shortages following a storm, urging residents to never use generators indoors or in garages to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
It also urged residents to use flashlights, not candles, to avoid risk of fire.
Even after the storm passes, power outages have their own set of hazards. Be especially careful with generators — never use them inside or in garages to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Use flashlights, not candles, to avoid risk of fire. #Idalia https://t.co/HcKsYCrFoE pic.twitter.com/Rovf6SgZXB
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 30, 2023
Updated
The Florida governor, Ron DeSantis, warned potential looters seeking to steal from people’s homes following the storm, saying: “You loot, we shoot.”
“I’ve told all of our personnel at the state level, you protect people’s property and we are not going to tolerate any looting in the aftermath of a natural disaster. I mean, it’s just ridiculous that you would try to do something like that on the heels of an almost category 4 hurricane hitting this community,” DeSantis said in a press conference on Wednesday.
We will not tolerate anyone taking advantage of those in the path of Hurricane Idalia.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) August 30, 2023
Looters beware, Floridians will defend their homes and families. pic.twitter.com/lUsL2Ol91A
“Also, just remind potential looters that even you never know what you’re walking into. People have a right to defend the property. [In] this part of Florida, you got a lot of advocates [who] are proponents of the second amendment and I’ve seen signs in different people’s yards in the past after these disasters and I would say probably here: ‘You loot, we shoot.’”
Updated
World Central Kitchen, a non-profit founded by the celebrity chef and restaurateur José Andrés, mobilized its teams across western Florida ahead of Hurricane Idalia making landfall earlier today.
WCK teams have prepared hundreds of sandwiches to provide immediate relief for residents.
WCK teams mobilized across western Florida ahead of Hurricane Idalia making landfall. With the storm battering the state, we are preparing hundreds of sandwiches to provide immediate relief as soon as the storm passes and we head out in search of people in need. #ChefsForFlorida pic.twitter.com/IvpstmImbO
— World Central Kitchen (@WCKitchen) August 30, 2023
Updated
The Florida division of emergency management has issued a warning on hidden dangers of floodwaters.
“Please do NOT walk, wade or drive through floodwaters as they can hide a variety of dangers,” the division said.
Many areas of the Big Bend are experiencing catastrophic flooding due to impacts from Hurricane #Idalia.
— FL Division of Emergency Management (@FLSERT) August 30, 2023
Please do NOT walk, wade or drive through floodwaters as they can hide a variety of dangers. ⬇️
For more info & updates, visit https://t.co/nfDMe4H80e. pic.twitter.com/K8lgieReCm
Here are some graphics created by the Guardian’s visuals team on Hurricane Idalia’s path and direction:
The Guardian has published an explainer on storm surges and the threat from storm surges from Hurricane Idalia.
For the full story, click here:
Here are some images of Hurricane Idalia coming through the newswires:
Updated
The South Carolina governor, Henry McMaster, said that he does not think Hurricane Idalia will be as detrimental as other hurricanes that have swept through the state.
“This is not as bad as some that we’ve seen. We don’t think it’s going to be as disruptive as some but it is going to be disruptive. There’s going to be high winds, a lot of water,” McMaster said at a press briefing on Wednesday.
He added that the state is not going to have any evacuations, saying:
“We are not going to have any evacuations. We’re not have any closing of state agencies ... This does not appear to be one that requires any evacuation orders or closing of state agencies but some of the schools are closed. Some of the schools are closed, we’re urging them to try to get back open back up as quickly as possible …
We’ve been through this before. We’ve been through a lot worse than this one appears to be, so we are ready.”
Updated
Georgia governor Brian Kemp has issued a state of emergency for the state that is set to last until 11.59pm on 8 September.
“We are taking every precaution ahead of Hurricane Idalia’s landfall tomorrow, and I am taking this additional executive action to ensure state assets are ready to respond,” Kemp said on Tuesday ahead of Idalia.
“Georgians in the expected impact area can and should take necessary steps to ensure their safety and that of their families. We are well positioned to respond to whatever Idalia may bring,” he added.
The executive order said that Idalia “has the potential to produce severe impacts to citizens throughout south-central and southeast coastal Georgia”, and that potential flooding, downed trees, power lines, and debris may render “Georgia’s network of roads impassable in affected counties, isolating residences and persons from access to essential public services.”
Updated
The Guardian’s Ankita Rao has tweeted photos of what she describes as “some of the worst flooding” in Tarpon, Florida, that her parents and friends have seen as a result of Hurricane Idalia.
My hometown Tarpon Springs is usually spared from the brunt of hurricane season. But Idalia has brought some of the worst flooding my parents and friends have seen. pic.twitter.com/rFsZrdjmqW
— Ankita Rao (@anrao) August 30, 2023
According to Rao, the access to and from one of her friend’s home has been flooded entirely.
One friend says all access to and from her home is flooded. pic.twitter.com/LPo10FONZR
— Ankita Rao (@anrao) August 30, 2023
Other residents can be seen kayaking across the flood waters.
And in Tampa and St. Pete, they say some people have the kayaks out pic.twitter.com/kUxPEzkdXJ
— Ankita Rao (@anrao) August 30, 2023
Idalia has brought heavy flooding and damage to the state’s Gulf coast after it made landfall slightly before 8am ET on Wednesday as a category 3 storm.
Updated
“I found them all to be laser focused on what their needs were and I asked them, but I think they’re reassured that we’re going to be there for whatever they need, including search and rescue off the shore,” Biden said of the governors of North and South Carolina, as well as Georgia, as he reffirmed federal assistance to southeastern states currently enduring Hurricane Idalia.
“How can we not respond? My god, how can we not respond to those needs?” Biden said in response to whether he can assure Amricans that the federal government is going to have the emergency funding that they need to get through this hurricane season.
“I’m confident even though there’s a lot of talk from some of our friends up in the Hill about the cost. We got to do it. This is the United States of America,” he added.
Biden: 'I don't think anybody can deny the impact of a climate crisis'
“I don’t think anybody can deny the impact of a climate crisis anymore. Just look around. Historic floods. I mean, historic floods. More intense droughts, extreme heat, significant wildfires have caused significant damage,” Biden said.
He added that he has directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency to redeploy resources, including up to 1,500 personnel and 900 Coast Guard personnel throughout the south-eastern states.
Updated
Biden said that he approved an early request of an emergency declaration by Florida governor Ron DeSantis “in advance” of Hurricane Idalia’s arrival.
He added that he spoke with the governors of Georgia and South Carolia and let each of them know that “if there’s anything the states need right now, I’m ready to mobilize that support.”
President Joe Biden is speaking now about Hurricane Idalia.
We will bring you the latest updates.
Updated
Anthony White is in Perry, Florida where the small city is seeing widespread destruction as a result of Hurricane Idalia.
He reports for the Guardian:
Driving into Perry, a small, historic city with a population of just more than 7,000 on Wednesday morning, about 15 miles inland from the coast where Hurricane Idalia made landfall, the scene of destruction was jaw-dropping.
Many residents had evacuated, especially after it was announced that some emergency shelters in the region would need to close because even they may not be able to withstand the impact of the storm.
Approaching from Tallahassee, the state capital, 50 miles inland, where I left on Tuesday evening at the urging of relatives – having originally planned to ride out the hurricane – more and more streets and highways were blocked by fallen trees on the approach to Perry.
There were power lines down all over the place and poles leaning, flood waters in some parts, and trees blocking even several lanes on both sides of the four-lane highway, forcing people to drive in the median. There was danger everywhere.
For the full story, click here:
Idalia’s core is moving across southeastern Georgia, with flash and river flooding likely across Georgia and the eastern Carolinas through Thursday, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said.
Joe Biden to give update on Hurricane Idalia
President Joe Biden is expected to deliver remarks on the response from the federal government to Hurricane Idalia.
We will be following his remarks live on the blog.
Updated
Our video team has put together this report on the hurricane’s passage through Florida:
Asked to what extent she attributed the cause of Hurricane Idalia to the crimate crisis, Criswell said she was not going to attribute the cause of the storm. She added:
What I can say is that we are seeing an increase in the number of severe weather events. What we saw with this storm, as we have seen with several of our hurricanes over the last few years, is that they are intensifying more rapidly due to the elevated heat of the water temperature in the Gulf or in the Pacific or whether it’s in the Atlantic.
These storms are intensifying so fast that our local emergency management officials have less time to warn and evacuate and get people to safety.
Updated
Criswell said her biggest concern is those people who chose not to evacuate.
Our priority through the day today is to make sure that everybody is safe.
Updated
Georgia and the Carolinas to experience impacts throughout day and into weekend, says Fema chief
Criswell said more power outages are expected to rise as the storm passes through Georgia and into South Carolina and North Carolina.
She urged people who are in the storm’s path should not venture out into the storm, and to heed local officials’ instructions to remain sheltering in place.
Do not wait in the water. Do not drive through flooded roads and streets. Just remember – turn around. Don’t drown.
Criswell reminded people that “this is very much an active situation” and that remnants of the storm are continuing to affect Florida.
The storm is over Georgia and moving into South Carolina. People there and in the Carolinas will continue to experience impacts throughout the day today and possibly into the weekend.
Updated
Deanne Criswell, chief of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), is speaking at a White House briefing to discuss response efforts for Hurricane Idalia.
President Joe Biden was briefed on Wednesday morning on the storm’s path, the White House said. He is expected to deliver remarks later this afternoon.
Biden spoke with Florida governor Ron DeSantis “to let him know that the federal family continues to be there to support him”, Criswell said.
She said she would be traveling into the area impacted by the storm this afternoon, and will join DeSantis on Wednesday to see firsthand the damages and assess the necessary recover process.
Criswell said it was too soon to assess the total damages of Idalia, but described the hurricane as “the strongest storm to to make landfall in this part of Florida in over 100 years”.
Casey DeSantis, wife of Florida governor Ron DeSantis, said a 100-year-old oak tree split open and toppled onto the governor’s mansion in Tallahassee.
She said she and their children were home at the time but that no one was injured.
100 year old oak tree falls on the Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee — Mason, Madison, Mamie and I were home at the time, but thankfully no one was injured.
— Casey DeSantis (@CaseyDeSantis) August 30, 2023
Our prayers are with everyone impacted by the storm. pic.twitter.com/l6MOE8wNMC
Updated
Tampa International Airport said it will reopen for arriving flights around 4pm Eastern time.
The airport sustained “minimal damage” from Hurricane Idalia, airport officials said. It added:
Departing flights and normal operations will resume early Thursday morning.
🚨 TPA TO REOPEN TO ARRIVING FLIGHTS ONLY AT 4 PM TODAY 🚨
— Tampa International Airport ✈️ (@FlyTPA) August 30, 2023
⛈️ TPA sustained minimal damage from Hurricane Idalia
✅ Departing flights and normal operations will resume early Thursday morning
✈️ Please check directly with your airline for the latest flight updates pic.twitter.com/cKwtnTc5ZY
Hurricane Idalia is over southern Georgia, and is now a category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 80 mph, the latest update from the National Hurricane Center states.
1 pm EDT: Hurricane #Idaila over southern Georgia. Heavy rains affecting portions of Georgia and the Carolinas. Visit https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ for details. pic.twitter.com/LNaTOB8lWn
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 30, 2023
More than 360,000 homes in Florida and Georgia without power
As of 12.21pm Eastern time, nearly 273,000 homes in Florida are without power.
According to poweroutage.us, more than 92,000 customers are without power in the state of Georgia.
The worst affected area of the storm appears to be Perry County, according to Kevin Guthrie of the Florida division of emergency management.
A couple of businesses there have caught on fire and roofs have been damaged, and crews are working on rescues, he said.
Madison County has also been affected, with “a lot of debris on the ground”, he said.
Updated
No confirmed storm-related fatalities in Florida, says governor
Florida governor Ron DeSantis said there have been no fatalities that have been confirmed by the Florida department of law enforcement as of this afternoon. He said:
We do not have any confirmed fatalities yet.
The Florida Highway Patrol had earlier reported two fatal crashes as a result of the storm.
Authorities are still assessing the situation on the ground in places that had the initial impact of the storm, he said.
Updated
More than 250,000 homes without power in Florida, says governor
Florida governor Ron DeSantis, speaking at a news conference in Tallahassee, said more than 250,000 customers are currently without power in the state.
The counties with the highest percentages of power outages are the ones that were in the main pathway of the storm, he said, including:
Dixie
Levy
Taylor
Suwannee
Madison
Jefferson
Columbia
He warned that the number of people experiencing power outages could go up, but he said utility workers are actively working to restore power.
Updated
Florida governor Ron DeSantis holds briefing in Tallahassee
Florida governor Ron DeSantis is providing an update to Hurricane Idalia at a news conference in Tallahassee, where he said the eye of the storm has left the state.
Florida is still being affected by the storm, particularly in the northern part of the state, he said.
Updated
Storm surge has caused extreme flooding in Steinhatchee in Florida’s Big Bend region after Idalia made landfall this morning.
The National Weather Service in Tallahassee reported significant spikes in water levels along the Steinhatchee river after Idalia’s landfall in Keaton Beach.
New video: drone footage from @bclemms shows Steinhatchee, Florida inundated by storm surge from Hurricane #Idalia. pic.twitter.com/S2fhYeVOu4
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) August 30, 2023
Updated
Idalia's core now in southern Georgia
The center of Idalia is crossing into southern Georgia as a category 1 hurricane with maximum wind speeds near 85 mph with higher gusts, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center.
A flash flood emergency has been issued for Valdosta, Georgia, where more than six inches of rain fell this morning.
The storm will continue to lash Georgia until the evening, when its center will cross into South Carolina.
12 pm EDT: Hurricane #Idalia bringing damaging winds to southern Georgia. Visit https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ for details. pic.twitter.com/2rjYwk1whz
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 30, 2023
Two storm-related deaths in Florida, says highway patrol
Two deaths have been attributed to Hurricane Idalia, according to the Florida highway patrol.
In one incident in Pasco County, a 40-year-old male driver died after losing control of a Ford Ranger and colliding with a tree.
In Alachua County, a 59-year-old male driving a Toyota Tacoma crashed into trees in “extremely rainy conditions” and was killed, the highway patrol said in a statement.
Updated
Water levels on the Steinhatchee River in Florida’s Big Bend region rose seven feet in the space of just an hour as Idalia made landfall this morning, according to the National Weather Service in Tallahassee.
River gauge in Steinhatchee rapidly increased this morning as storm surge moved in with the river gauge increasing from 1 ft to 8 ft in only 1 hour. Last observation was at 830am ET. When we say the storm surge threat would increase rapidly, this is what we meant. #Idalia #FLwx pic.twitter.com/5PfMAhbiie
— NWS Tallahassee (@NWSTallahassee) August 30, 2023
First look at Steinhatchee FL after extreme river surge. #flwx #Idaliapic.twitter.com/t1aJIGQW6o
— Jordan Hall (@JordanHallWX) August 30, 2023
Rare blue supermoon could raise tides to exacerbate Idalia storm surge
A rare blue supermoon could raise tides above normal just as Hurricane Idalia smashes its way across Florida’s west coast, exacerbating flooding from the storm.
The moon will be closest to the Earth on Wednesday, the day Idalia made landfall in Florida. While a supermoon can make for a spectacular backdrop in photos of landmarks around the world, its intensified gravitational pull also makes tides higher.
“I would say the timing is pretty bad for this one,” said Brian Haines, the meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service office in Charleston, South Carolina.
It is expected to make tidal flooding worse not only in Florida, but in states such as Georgia and South Carolina, where Haines’s office has been warning residents that parts of Charleston could be under water by Wednesday night.
When the moon is full, the sun and the moon are pulling in the same direction, which has the effect of increasing tides above normal ranges, said Kerry Emanuel, professor emeritus of atmospheric science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The moon’s gravitational pulls are even stronger when it is closer to Earth, so the tides are even higher.
The storm surge is often the greatest killer when hurricanes strike. “There’s a saying that you hide from the wind and run from the water, and hopefully people are heeding that advice,” said Brian Tang, associate professor of atmospheric science at University at Albany in New York.
The part of north-west Florida that has been hit by Idalia is especially vulnerable to storm surge because of the region’s geography. The continental shelf extends so far out from the coast and has a gradual slope, allowing the ocean to grow higher as hurricane winds drive the water on to land, Tang said.
The shape of the coast in that region – known as Florida’s Big Bend area, where the northern part of the state’s peninsula meets the panhandle – is also curved inward, which can focus the storm surge to make it even more dangerous, he said.
The center of Idalia is crossing into Georgia as a category 1 hurricane with maximum wind speeds of 90mph and higher gusts.
Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said:
Although Idalia will weaken further while the center is inland, it is still expected to be a hurricane through this afternoon or evening while moving across southeastern Georgia and southern South Carolina.
Valdosta, GA, and much of south Georgia under the gun from hurricane Idalia. Lowndes county emergency management confirms powerlines down across I 75, traffic being diverted off the highway. Power outage numbers are quickly increasing. @weatherchannel is live tracking #Idalia pic.twitter.com/NwB7b3lrbr
— Justin Michaels (@JMichaelsNews) August 30, 2023
A tornado watch has been issued for parts of North Carolina and South Carolina and will be in effect until 10pm, the National Weather Service said.
A tornado watch has been issued for parts of North Carolina and South Carolina until 10 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/UGsQRUPQXT
— NWS Tornado (@NWStornado) August 30, 2023
Idalia weakens to category 1 hurricane
Hurricane Idalia has maximum sustained winds of 90mph, making it a category 1 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center’s latest update.
Updated
A 40-year-old man died in a weather-related accident in Pasco County, part of Florida’s Big Bend region, early this morning, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
The driver, who has not been identified, lost control and collided with a tree, suffering fatal injuries, at around 6.15am as the storm was nearing landfall, according to a statement.
Hurricane Idalia tracker: where will it go next?
Idalia remained an extremely dangerous category 2 hurricane as it moved into Georgia after making landfall this morning on Florida’s west coast.
Idalia had grown into a category 2 system on Tuesday afternoon and became a category 3 just hours earlier Wednesday, before strengthening to a category 4 and then weakening slightly to a high-end Category 3.
A category 3 storm is the first on the scale considered a major hurricane and the National Hurricane Center says a category 4 storm brings “catastrophic damage.”
Updated
Idalia's wind speeds near 105 mph and spreading into southern Georgia
In its latest update posted at 10am Eastern time, the National Hurricane Center said Idalia is still at a category 2 hurricane, with damaging winds spreading into southern Georgia.
Wind speeds are near 105 mph with higher gusts.
10 AM EDT Hurricane #Idalia Update: Damaging winds spreading into southern Georgia. pic.twitter.com/SNzWRQolZo
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 30, 2023
Here are some of the latest images from the newswires from Florida’s Gulf coast, where Hurricane Idalia caused life threatening winds, torrential rains and surging seawater.
Mandatory evacuation orders were issued in at least 28 of Florida’s 67 counties as of Tuesday night. Most of the state’s 21 million residents, and many in the adjacent states of Georgia and South Carolina, were under hurricane warnings and other storm-related advisories. State emergency declarations were issued in all three.
“They’re expecting some fatalities, so I don’t want to be one of them,” said Rene Hoffman, 62, of Steinhatchee. She owns a food stand that she lashed to her husband’s pickup truck to keep it from washing or blowing away.
“This is scary, you know, to think that water could come this high,” she said as she gathered her prescription medications and prepared to leave her home. “We’ve never had water up here before.“
Hurricane Idalia’s 125mph winds, torrential rains and surging seawater were battering Florida’s Gulf coast early on Wednesday in an “unprecedented event” in the state’s Big Bend area as the category 3 cyclone made landfall.
Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, warned of a catastrophic impact from the storm as he urged residents who had not heeded evacuation orders to shelter in place. Quickly deteriorating conditions, he told a pre-dawn press conference, would make it too dangerous for emergency crews to respond.
“Don’t put your life at risk by doing anything dumb at this point,” he said.
This thing’s powerful. If you’re inside, hunker down until it gets past you. You don’t want to be messing around with these winds. There’s going to be things flying all over the place.
Idalia, which powered up into a category 4 storm with sustained winds of 130mph and gusts up to 160mph before weakening slightly as it approached the coast, made landfall shortly before 8am ET.
It is the most powerful storm ever to hit the state’s Big Bend region, the section of the west side of Florida where the northern part of the peninsula meets the panhandle region, an area of dominated more by nature reserves and rural communities than cities. An hour later it had dropped to a category 2 hurricane.
No major hurricane, classed as a category 3 storm with 111mph winds or higher, had previously hit Florida’s Big Bend, a marshy coast, threaded with freshwater springs and rivers, and a cluster of small offshore islands forming Cedar Key, a historic fishing village devastated in 1896 by a hurricane’s storm surge.
It is also the third hurricane to make a direct hit on Florida in 12 months after Ian last September and Nicole in November.
The National Weather Service in Tallahassee called it “an unprecedented event”, and DeSantis and emergency management officials warned of a storm surge, heightened by a 4am high tide, of up to 16ft in the hurricane’s direct path.
More than 245,000 customers in Florida without power
More than 245,000 customers in Florida were without power as of around 9am, according to poweroutage.us.
Roof pealed off a building along with powerlines down at corner of South Jefferson Street and East Church Street in Perry, FL. @NWSTallahassee #wxtwitter #idalia #flwx pic.twitter.com/xwpIlFbiQU
— Jonathan Sachar (@jsacharwx) August 30, 2023
Updated
Life threatening storm surge will continue through the afternoon across the Big Bend in Florida, the National Weather Service’s office in Tallahassee has warned.
People in impacted areas have been urged to shelter in place and stay indoors, keep away from windows, and monitor all the warnings and heed advice from local officials.
With catastrophic storm surge occurring along the coast of the Florida Big Bend and damaging winds spreading inland over northern Florida remember:
— National Weather Service (@NWS) August 30, 2023
🏡shelter in place and stay indoors
🪟keep away from windows
📱monitor all the warnings and heed advice from local officials.
🌀get…
Idalia returns to category 2 hurricane, 'damaging' winds spreading inland over northern Florida
The National Hurricane Center has warned of “catastrophic” storm surge occurring along the coast of Florida’s Big Bend, as well as “damaging” winds spreading inland over northern Florida, in its latest update.
Maximum sustained winds are near 110 mph (175 km/h) with higher gusts, forecasters said.
Hurricane #Idalia making landfall in the Big Bend Area this morning with catastrophic storm surge. Surge concerns will continue along the west coast even though is pulling away from our area. Highest surge will be around the time of high tide this afternoon hours. Remain alert!⚠️ pic.twitter.com/kl8VmpJDjA
— NWS Tampa Bay (@NWSTampaBay) August 30, 2023
Updated
While we’re on the subject of Cedar Key, here’s a clip of the storm surge causing structural damage to a condo complex on the island city off the northwest coast of Florida.
Storm surge causing structural damage and blowing out the doors of condo complex in Cedar Key, FL from Hurricane Idalia @accuweather pic.twitter.com/WAJgBtZtku
— Reed Timmer, PhD (@ReedTimmerAccu) August 30, 2023
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said water levels were continuing to rise as Hurricane Idalia made landfall.
Cedar Key on Florida’s Gulf coast is experiencing six feet above normal high tide and rising, the NOAA said.
Water levels continue to rise in FL from Tampa Bay- Panama City as Hurricane #Idalia makes landfall. The NOAA tide station at Cedar Key is at 6' above normal high tide and rising. Get the real-time data: https://t.co/xeMuNhlWrw
— NOAA's Ocean Service (@noaaocean) August 30, 2023
All of NOAA's #Idalia info: https://t.co/qBK4fxJo51 pic.twitter.com/L90hjjXT4S
Here’s a clip from Steinhatchee, in Florida’s Big Bend region:
WOW! Check out this clip from a Steinhatchee, #Florida livecam just now as #HurricaneIdalia floods the area in deep #StormSurge! 🤯 #flwx #Idalia @NWSTallahassee pic.twitter.com/jKRTFaUX0a
— BirdingPeepWx (@BirdingPeepWx) August 30, 2023
Studies have shown there is evidence that Atlantic hurricanes are becoming stronger and intensifying more rapidly due to these accelerants provided by the climate crisis.
The current naturally occurring El Niño climate phenomenon, which has heated up the equatorial Pacific Ocean, is normally associated with a weaker hurricane season in the Atlantic, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) recently warned of an above-average period of storms due, in part, to the extreme heat that has accumulated in the oceans.
The oceans have absorbed about 90% of the extra heat due to the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, with the heightened temperatures causing stress to fish and bleaching and even death to coral reefs.
In July, the waters off southern Florida were measured to be at 101F (38F), a record temperature more often found in Jacuzzis than the ocean that raised fears for the state’s ailing coral reef.
A “heat dome” – an area of rigid high pressure that locks in repeatedly high temperatures – has squatted over parts of the US south this summer and brought extreme heat to coastal areas as well as the oceans. Over the weekend, both Houston and New Orleans recorded their hottest temperatures ever measured, reaching 109F (42C) and 105F (40.5C), respectively.
Hurricane Idalia, which has triggered evacuations as it threatens to pummel the northern reaches of Florida, is being fueled by unusually high temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, part of a trend of extreme marine heat that has dominated the summer.
The rapid intensification of the hurricane – the first to hit the US this year – has been spurred by ocean temperatures that have remained persistently elevated throughout the summer.
The eastern parts of the Gulf of Mexico have been around 87F (30.5C) to 89F (31C) in recent days, several degrees above the long-term average and part of a vast network of marine heatwaves that have covered nearly half of the world’s oceans this summer. Scientists have said the extreme oceanic heat is consistent with the expected impacts of the climate crisis.
The exceptional warmth of the Gulf extends down to about 165ft below the surface of the area where Idalia is traveling through, a rare occurrence described as “other-worldly” by Andy Hazelton, a scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa).
This level of ocean heat alone would be enough to make Idalia a devastating category 5 storm, scientists have said, although other factors such as wind shear will influence the ultimate outcome of the tempest. Hurricanes gather strength from warm oceans and moisture in the atmosphere, which are both facets of global heating.
Joe Biden to speak about Hurricane Idalia today
President Joe Biden is expected to give a speech this afternoon laying out his administration’s response to Hurricane Idalia.
Biden will “deliver remarks on the whole-of-government response and recovery efforts on Maui, Hawaii and the ongoing response from the federal government to Hurricane Idalia”, CNN quoted a White House official as saying.
The speech is scheduled to take place at 1.45pm eastern time (6.45pm BST).
Updated
The National Weather Service’s office in Tallahassee has shared some clips showing Idalia’s impact as it made landfall.
WWLP-22News’ Chris Bouzakis posted a video showing the storm surge in Horseshoe Beach, Florida:
Category 3 Hurricane #Idalia close to landfall in the big bend of Florida. Incredible live feed from Horseshoe Beach, Florida with deadly storm surge. https://t.co/VMwyMYA30I pic.twitter.com/sDxAcBwLrc
— Chris Bouzakis (@ChrisBouzakis) August 30, 2023
Here’s a clip of the storm surge racing up the Steinhatchee river, as shared by Fox Weather’s Mark Sudduth.
Storm surge racing up the Steinhatchee River as seen from our cam in Steinhatchee. @foxweather @NWSTallahassee @NWSTampaBay pic.twitter.com/JLD1HL9IMR
— Mark Sudduth (@hurricanetrack) August 30, 2023
The eye of the storm is moving just inland from Florida’s Big Bend coast, according to the National Hurricane Center.
It says “catastrophic storm surge and damaging hurricane-force winds continue”.
The eye of Hurricane Idalia made landfall along the coast of the Florida Big Bend near Keaton Beach around 7.45am Eastern time, the National Hurricane Center said.
The storm’s maximum sustained winds were near 125 mph.
7:45 AM EDT update: Extremely dangerous Category 3 Hurricane #Idalia makes landfall in the Florida Big Bend. Maximum sustained winds were estimated to be 125 mph. Catastrophic storm surge and damaging winds ongoing. pic.twitter.com/umMdj8dD5d
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 30, 2023
Hurricane Idalia makes landfall in Florida
Hurricane Idalia has officially made landfall near Keaton Beach, just north of Steinhatchee, Florida, the National Hurricane Center said.
The hurricane made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region as a category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph and even higher gusts. It is the strongest storm to make landfall in the area in more than 125 years.
During Florida governor Ron DeSantis’ news conference this morning, the power flickered on and off and the lights briefly went out.
“There we go with our power here,” DeSantis said, before the lights flickered back on.
Currently there are about 130,833 Florida customers without power, according to poweroutage.us.
A category 3 hurricane is still in “major hurricane” territory and does not diminish the dangers the storm presents.
Earlier, the storm intensified into an extremely dangerous category 4 with winds of 130 mph.
Idalia is now a category 3 hurricane with winds of 125 mph – only 5 mph from the previous update.
It is expected to make landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region within the next hour.
Updated
Idalia returns to category 3 hurricane
Hurricane Idalia has eased very slightly before landfall and is now a category 3 hurricane with 125mph winds and higher gusts.
Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center have warned that the change in wind speed “does not diminish the threat of catastrophic storm surge and damaging winds”.
7 AM Update on Hurricane #Idalia: Catastrophic Storm Surge and Destructive Winds Occurring in the Florida Big Bend. Latest at https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ pic.twitter.com/alJo90aUzI
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 30, 2023
Updated
Florida residents should 'hunker down until it gets past you', warns Governor DeSantis
Florida governor Ron DeSantis urged people in affected areas not to go outside in the midst of the storm.
If it’s calm where you are, it may be because you are in the eye of the storm and those conditions will change very, very quickly.
He warned there will be impacts far beyond the eyeball that will extend to Tallahassee and north-east Florida. There have already been 11 tornado warnings and more tornadoes are possible, he said.
DeSantis urged people to heed emergency officials’ warnings to take cover.
Don’t put your life at risk by doing anything dumb at this point. This thing’s powerful. If you’re inside just hunker down until it gets past you.
After the storm passes, people are urged not to drive in flooded streets, and to assume that all downed power lines are still hot and live.
There are currently 54,000 households without power throughout the state, with more than 100,000 households who have restored power, he said. In addition, he said 33 ambulance strike teams and 5,500 national guardsmen who are ready to go, as well as the US coast guard on standby.
Governor Ron DeSantis Gives Update on Hurricane Idalia From Tallahassee Florida https://t.co/eeN2etJSvd
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) August 30, 2023
Updated
DeSantis said in his early morning press conference that a storm surge could reach up to 16 feet (nearly 5m) in some areas of the Big Bend area.
“That level of storm surge is life threating,” he said.
A storm surge is the rising of the water level as a result of wind and atmosphere pressure changes associated with storms and can cause massive flooding.
Storm could land in just over an hour, says Florida governor Ron DeSantis
Florida governor Ron DeSantis is holding a press conference.
He just said that “the full impact” of the hurricane will “most likely” hit in the next couple of hours.
“Please hunker down,” he said. “Don’t mess with this storm.”
He said the storm could hit Big Bend by 8am local time. That is is about an hour and ten minutes.
Updated
Here is the latest update from the National Hurricane Center:
Here is the 6am EDT Position Update for #Hurricane #Idalia.
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 30, 2023
Catastrophic storm surge and destructive winds will begin soon in the Florida Big Bend near where the core of the hurricane makes landfall.https://t.co/y75tVkKnUz pic.twitter.com/C40k5knP5t
Updated
Idalia forecast to hit Florida as a category 4 storm with ‘catastrophic’ storm surge
Residents in northern Florida are rushing to evacuate as Hurricane Idalia is due to hit, with forecasters warning that it will come ashore as a category 4 storm with sustained winds of at least 130 mph (209km/h).
Idalia grew to hurricane strength early on Tuesday and is predicted to slam into the Big Bend region on Florida’s Gulf coast early on Wednesday local time (in the next few hours).
The National Hurricane Center has warned of “catastrophic storm surge and destructive winds” that it said “will begin soon”.
States of emergency have been declared in Florida, North and South Carolina and Georgia. Residents of vulnerable coastal areas in Florida have been ordered to evacuate, with governor Ron DeSantis warning: “You really gotta go now. Now is the time.” In total, 28 of the state’s 67 counties are under evacuation orders.
The storm’s path is expected to impact a wide central portion of the state, including cities such as Tampa and Orlando, and move close to the Carolina coastline on Thursday, the National Hurricane Center added.
President Joe Biden has signed a federal order freeing up personnel and resources, including search and rescue teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema).
Hello and welcome to the live blog. Oliver Holmes here, and I’ll be bringing you all the latest developments as Idalia makes landfall.
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