Hurricane Idalia made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast, bringing strong winds, heavy rain, and rough waves. It then weakened as it moved towards south-eastern Georgia, causing flooding that trapped some residents in their homes.
Idalia developed from a tropical storm into a hurricane shortly after passing Cuba, where it caused damage to homes and flooded villages. In Florida, it caused a storm surge of up to 16ft, leading to the submersion of the coastal community of Steinhatchee and record-high water levels across a 200-mile stretch south to Tampa. Tragically, the hurricane resulted in fatalities, including a 40-year-old motorist in Pasco county and a 59-year-old man in Gainesville, both involved in car accidents.
