So far no death’s reported from the storm…..
Lot’s of property damage though…..
Idalia currently has maximum winds of 60 mph and is forecast to continue withdrawing from the coast of the Carolinas during the afternoon. That will offer a welcome respite from tropical cyclones in the United States heading into the weekend.
Predicted track for Hurricane Idalia. (National Hurricane Center)- Idalia produced devastating storm surge flooding along Florida’s west coast. Even though the storm made landfall around low tide Wednesday, an 8-foot surge in Cedar Key produced its highest water level on record. Tampa and St. Petersburg also had near-record water levels because of a 5-foot surge.
- There was extensive damage in Florida towns, including Perry, Steinhatchee and Cedar Key. In Perry, with a population of 7,000, winds launched trees into homes and businesses, downed power lines, crushed cars and ruptured water pipes. Roofs collapsed and crumbled. Many there did not evacuate and were sorting through the debris after the storm had passed on Wednesday.
- Historically high water levels hit Charleston and Myrtle Beach Wednesday night. A surge of 2 to 3 feet around high tide raised water levels to their fifth- and sixth-highest marks on record, and caused major flooding.
- Wind gusts over 80 mph caused severe damage in Perry, Fla., about 50 miles southeast of Tallahassee.
- At least 8 inches of rain fell in four states — Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina — leading to flash flooding. Storm totals included 9.40 inches in Clearwater Beach, Fla.; 8.2 inches in Statesboro, Ga.; 9.61 inches in Hampton, S.C.; and 11.57 inches in Mullins, N.C.
- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said at midday Wednesday that there had not yet been any confirmed deaths due to the storm, though Florida Highway Patrol investigators reported at least a pair of fatal crashes that occurred early that morning in stormy conditions.
- More than 75 people were rescued by the fire and rescue team in areas of St Petersburg, while over 60 citizens were evacuated from flooded homes in the Hudson area on Wednesday, the Pasco sheriff’s office said…..
Could Idalia return to Florida as a weaken Tropical storm?
Idalia may instead meander close to the Southeast coast for several days. There is a slim possibility that it will turn back to the west next week, forming a loop, and again menace the southeast United States. On Monday and Tuesday, some model projections showed this scenario. However, Wednesday’s models have backed off that idea and suggest it should move far enough offshore to be of little worry beyond generating some rough surf for the East Coast.
The reason Idalia needs to be watched after exiting the Carolinas is that the same jet stream dip that steered Idalia into Florida will try to leave it behind as it sweeps rapidly to the east. The jet will scoop up Hurricane Franklin in the process, pushing it well out to sea. But Idalia may not get captured.
How far offshore Idalia gets will depend on the strength of the tug of this jet. Afterward, high pressure will probably fill the void to the north of Idalia, attempting to trap the storm off the East Coast…..
President Joe Biden said he’ll travel to Florida Saturday to survey damage from Hurricane Idalia, though he did not announce his exact location.
His visit will come several days after Idalia swept through Florida and several other southern states, causing widespread damage and flooding to coastal areas….
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