Hurricane Idalia made landfall on the morning of August 30, 2023, near Keaton Beach in the Big Bend region of Florida, with sustained winds around 115-125 mph, classifying it as a strong Category 3 hurricane at landfall
. The storm caused severe damage in this area, including a historic storm surge along the northeast Florida Gulf Coast, with water levels reaching 10 to 16 feet in places like Cedar Key, Steinhatchee, and the Greater Tampa Region
. After landfall, Idalia moved rapidly inland across northern Florida and continued through southern Georgia and the Carolinas, remaining a hurricane near the coast of Georgia and southern South Carolina before moving out into the Atlantic Ocean by Thursday
. The storm brought damaging winds, heavy rainfall, flooding, and tornado threats across this path
. In summary, Hurricane Idalia hit the Florida Big Bend region, particularly near Keaton Beach, then moved northeast through Georgia and the Carolinas before heading into the Atlantic
