The first major hurricane to hit Florida this year made history with an unprecedented landfall in modern times in Apalachee Bay.
Idalia made landfall as a major Category 3 hurricane near Keaton Beach around 7:45 a.m. on Wednesday, with top estimated wind speeds of 125 mph.
Idalia brought life-threatening storm surge and destructive winds to parts of Floridaโs Gulf Coast, especially in the Big Bend region and northern parts of the Nature Coast.
Potential peak surge was forecast to reach up to 12 to 16 feet above ground level โ comparable to what happened during Hurricane Ian in the Fort Myers area.
Storm surge also inundated parts of the Tampa Bay area. Water was at least a few feet deep in surge-prone parts of Pinellas County Tuesday, closing several roadways.
Here's a look at some of the damage from Idalia across the Bay area and north Florida from our field crews on the ground and local agencies:
The Beach Trail on Treasure Island Beach is flooded. Storm surge has reached this far up the beach. #Idalia pic.twitter.com/cYrpQE3mtm
โ Treasure Island, FL (@TresIslandFL) August 30, 2023
After Idalia ๐ Business owners began returning to their properties this afternoon along Hernando Beach's Shoal Line Blvd. Some have been rocked harder than others, but most are staying optimistic. @BN9 #Idalia pic.twitter.com/3wsloakRJF
โ Calvin Lewis (@CalvinLewisTV) August 31, 2023
ST. PETE PIER FLOODING: The Pier in St. Pete is closed due to high water. Itโs not open to sightseers. Itโs not safe, please stay home. Bayshore Dr. N.E. is flooded. More flooding scenes from across the region: https://t.co/J93KeQZMPp pic.twitter.com/pSmsOhQEsi
โ Spectrum Bay News 9 (@BN9) August 30, 2023
The moon looks beautiful over Cedar Key this morning, as crews continue cleanup from the aftermath of #Idalia.
โ Brian Rea (@brianmrea) August 31, 2023
Fire Rescue says power is back on this morning. Right now, officials are only letting residents with re-entry passes cross the bridge. @BN9 @MyNews13 pic.twitter.com/ezbN26GV98
More footage from Tarpon Springs. Working with fire rescue responding to calls for service. #Idalia pic.twitter.com/kZAeEjapPw
โ Pinellas County Sheriff's Office (@SheriffPinellas) August 30, 2023
These aerials show current conditions at #ClearwaterBeach after #HurricaneIdalia. Access to Clearwater Beach & Sand Key continue to be closed until at least this evening, due to ongoing flooding caused by a combination of storm surge and high tides. pic.twitter.com/1xxzkp55oO
โ City of Clearwater, FL (@MyClearwater) August 30, 2023
Another update here at the Alafia River, things have started to pick up with the rain and wind. Residents are still concerned over the potential of more flooding. @BN9 pic.twitter.com/VrnWSzA0EV
โ Lizbeth Gutierrez (@LizbethGNews) August 30, 2023
More scenes from Shoal Line Blvd: business parking lots flooded and cars packing the parking lot of Dollar General. #HernandoBeach residents told me yesterday people left cars there because itโs higher ground. The sheriff says the worst of the flooding appears to be over. @BN9 pic.twitter.com/Rw8ADwMV6e
โ Sarah Blazonis (@SarahBlazonis) August 30, 2023
Aviation footage from our damage assessments earlier today. pic.twitter.com/ZmOZzAuzOy
โ Chad Chronister (@ChadChronister) August 30, 2023
In Shore Acres everything before the rec center appears to be fine. You can tell where thereโs been some high waters but as you can see in this video, everything past the rec center is dealing with high flood waters. Fire rescue is doing rescues from flooded homes.@BN9 pic.twitter.com/3rTrxU1PbM
โ Saundra WeathersOnTV (@SaundraONTV) August 30, 2023
Flooding on the barrier islands in Pinellas County caused by Idalia. ๐ท: Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
โ Spectrum Bay News 9 (@BN9) August 30, 2023
View more Idalia photos: https://t.co/xoB8oKm7xw pic.twitter.com/o04HSJxXEs
WATCH: Incredible time-lapse video from Steinhatchee in the Big Bend area Wednesday morning of flood waters rising as Hurricane Idalia moved through the region. https://t.co/J93KeQZMPp pic.twitter.com/OKkkXK17Lc
โ Spectrum Bay News 9 (@BN9) August 30, 2023
Flooding on the barrier islands in Pinellas County caused by Idalia. ๐ท: Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
โ Spectrum Bay News 9 (@BN9) August 30, 2023
View more Idalia photos: https://t.co/xoB8oKm7xw pic.twitter.com/o04HSJxXEs
Not open to sightseers - https://t.co/Qfwo8UcGQ8
โ Virginia M. Johnson (@VirginiaJohnson) August 30, 2023
A current look at #ClearwaterBeach as rough seas continue to push water onshore after the march of #Idalia through the Guif of Mexico. pic.twitter.com/eVyMs8nMUy
โ Clearwater Police Department (@myclearwaterPD) August 30, 2023
Flood waters are starting to reseed, but please DO NOT walk thru the water, It is not safe for a number of health reasons. https://t.co/Z0UnofTQZe
โ Mike Cairns (@MikeCairns5) August 30, 2023
Weโre in Yankeetown, a small community in Levy Co. following the aftermath of #Idalia.
โ Brian Rea (@brianmrea) August 30, 2023
Officials here say their biggest concern is flooding, especially with this afternoonโs high tide.
The sheriffโs office has blocked the road to the marina.
โฆ@BN9โฉ โฆ@MyNews13โฉ pic.twitter.com/TzJlVyTtIx
The water has significantly receded since my last update. This dock near the Alafia River was completely covered a few hours ago. @BN9 @bn9weather pic.twitter.com/nXonwvONUx
โ Lizbeth Gutierrez (@LizbethGNews) August 30, 2023
South Gulfview Boulevard on #ClearwaterBeach is under water from #Idalia. pic.twitter.com/Knlbeeg8ia
โ Clearwater Police Department (@myclearwaterPD) August 30, 2023
Here is a look at some of the rescues that have happened today in Pasco County. @BN9 https://t.co/V60MBCyzBw
โ Erin Murray Bay News 9 (@emurray1) August 30, 2023
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
โ HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) August 30, 2023
Our #teamHCSO Aviation Unit has returned to the skies to assess the damages throughout Hillsborough County. Take a peek into what our pilots are seeing as they fly throughout the region. #HurricaneIdalia pic.twitter.com/qwx3WcrWyE
๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐ฒ
โ HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) August 30, 2023
Areas in Southern Hillsborough County continue to see rain bands and high tides rolling in.
โ ๏ธ Please do not attempt to drive into flooded roadways.
๐ Stay indoors until youโve been instructed to leave ifโฆ pic.twitter.com/3ObS4UTymT
High water is a problem across many #ClearwaterBeach streets. Weโre only able to access some areas with a high-water vehicle after #Idalia. pic.twitter.com/pYM857jH5i
โ Clearwater Police Department (@myclearwaterPD) August 30, 2023
NO SWIMMING TODAY! In Oldsmar at R.E. Olds Park some have decided to take a swim which is strongly discouraged by officials. The tide is high enough now that parts of the pier and park benches are submerged. @BN9 #HurricaneIdalia pic.twitter.com/CuhDNZvam5
โ Fadia Maytรฉ Patterson, M.S. (@FadiaTVNews) August 30, 2023
Tree down blocking HWY 358 into Steinhatchee. Crews working to clear the way but say road is closed to everyone except residents & first responders. @bn9 pic.twitter.com/D464er6CUf
โ Melissa Eichman (@MEbn9) August 30, 2023
The Beach Trail on Treasure Island Beach is flooded. Storm surge has reached this far up the beach. #Idalia pic.twitter.com/cYrpQE3mtm
โ Treasure Island, FL (@TresIslandFL) August 30, 2023
Here's the full video of the destruction of the Horseshoe Beach, FL camera moments ago. This camera was at least 10 feet above sea level. Waves were overtaking this camera during its final moments. https://t.co/y3ZAok0Ft0 pic.twitter.com/JUu8JGZwQG
โ RadarOmega (@RadarOmega) August 30, 2023
FWC airboats turning onto Sea Ranch Drive in Hudson as water rescues continue. Officials say theyโve had to help dozens of residents out of their flooded homesโฆthey were ordered to evacuate two days ago. #hurricaneidalia @MyFWC @bn9weather @BN9 pic.twitter.com/QZsLk4LCo6
โ Cait McVey (@CaitMcVey) August 30, 2023
Trucks are always pulling boats right? #waitforitโฆ better than swimmingโฆ..
โ Virginia M. Johnson (@VirginiaJohnson) August 30, 2023
Northern Manatee County in Palmetto near Skywayโ flooding @bn9 โฆ@BCollinsPhotogโฉ #idalia pic.twitter.com/wuqcVwwPqD
ST. PETE PIER FLOODING: The Pier in St. Pete is closed due to high water. Itโs not open to sightseers. Itโs not safe, please stay home. Bayshore Dr. N.E. is flooded. More flooding scenes from across the region: https://t.co/J93KeQZMPp pic.twitter.com/pSmsOhQEsi
โ Spectrum Bay News 9 (@BN9) August 30, 2023
Low tide in @CityofGulfport watch is above the knee along Shore Blvd. @BN9 @bn9weather @MyNews13 #HurricaneIdalia2023 pic.twitter.com/VuWjvWmXwy
โ Trevor Pettiford (@TrevorPettiford) August 30, 2023
More footage from Tarpon Springs. Working with fire rescue responding to calls for service. #Idalia pic.twitter.com/kZAeEjapPw
โ Pinellas County Sheriff's Office (@SheriffPinellas) August 30, 2023
Residents testing the waters here in Gulfport. โฆ@BN9โฉ #Idalia pic.twitter.com/eXfNgyvy5k
โ Mike Cairns (@MikeCairns5) August 30, 2023
We urge residents to continue to shelter in place - stay indoors. https://t.co/42hReuActK
โ City of Dunedin, FL (@CityofDunedinFl) August 30, 2023
#HurricaneIdalia HERE COMES THE SURGE Video of US19 at N. Citrus Ave. You can see the water movement left to right indicating surge coming in. @bn9weather says 7-10ft of surge is possible. The latest @BN9 pic.twitter.com/JoZedAOiSk
โ Jason Lanning (@Jason_Lanning) August 30, 2023
#HurricaneIdalia HERE COMES THE SURGE Video of US19 at N. Citrus Ave. You can see the water movement left to right indicating surge coming in. @bn9weather says 7-10ft of surge is possible. The latest @BN9 pic.twitter.com/JoZedAOiSk
โ Jason Lanning (@Jason_Lanning) August 30, 2023
Palmetto street kayaking - North Manatee County @bn9 โฆ@BCollinsPhotogโฉ #idalia pic.twitter.com/vDKigPsnwu
โ Virginia M. Johnson (@VirginiaJohnson) August 30, 2023
Kings Bay has flooded into some of the restaurants and homes in Crystal River. Video taken around 8:50 a.m. @SheriffCitrus on scene keeping people from the flooded out roadways @BN9 pic.twitter.com/6IFhyIVLUK
โ Angie Angers (@angie_angers) August 30, 2023
As Hurricane Idalia makes landfall in Florida's Big Bend region, the outer bands are battering Treasure Island in Pinellas County. (๐น: City of Treasure Island) pic.twitter.com/m1u2Vahouw
โ Spectrum Bay News 9 (@BN9) August 30, 2023
.@FHPTampa is now saying that both directions of the Howard Frankland Bridge are closed.
โ Tim Wronka (@TimWronka) August 30, 2023
Hereโs daylight video of the storm surge still covering the northbound side of the bridge @BN9 #Idalia pic.twitter.com/2uBMpTEupk
A citizen sent in these photos of flooded roads in Hernando Beach.
โ Hernando Co. Govt. (@HernandoCoGov) August 30, 2023
๐ง As a reminder, there is currently no access to residential areas west of US-19. ๐ง
Visit https://t.co/BUBdhlHYsV for up-to-date information about the hurricane.#HernandoPrepares #HurricaneIdalia pic.twitter.com/rnDOKDnjY3
A daylight look at the Dunedin Marina. Low tide was at about 6amโฆhigh tide around noon. Storm surge in Pinellas expected to be 4-6 ft on top of king tideโฆso this will get worse before it gets better! Be safe everyone! #HurricaneIdalia @BN9 @bn9weather pic.twitter.com/Umy8cymfgR
โ Cait McVey (@CaitMcVey) August 30, 2023
Flooding here in Gulfport near the Casino water is building in some spots knee deep. โฆ@bn9weatherโฉ โฆ@BN9โฉ #Idalia pic.twitter.com/9NpmYWBpic
โ Mike Cairns (@MikeCairns5) August 30, 2023
Weโre getting hit hard with a band of wind and rain in Levy County. The eye of the storm is directly to our west in the gulf. Hereโs a look at US-19/98 and CR-40 in Inglis โฆ@BN9โฉ pic.twitter.com/hNXZ3yKj0q
โ Angie Angers (@angie_angers) August 30, 2023