Category 3 storm Idalia made landfall on August 30 as a Category 3 hurricane in Florida, causing a surge of sea water that reached as high as 12 feet above normal levels.
Category 3 Storm Idalia Devastated Florida Coast With 12 Feet High Storm Surges| EarthSky
The Category 3 storm’s winds briefly reached 130 mph before hitting land with 125-mph winds.
A survey team from the National Weather Service found that the water levels surged between 7-12 feet higher along more than 33 miles of coastline.
The Category 3 storm was the first Category 3 storm to make landfall in this area in decades, causing significant damage to Gulf-front communities and surrounding areas.
Private insured losses from the Category 3 storm were estimated to be between $3 billion and $5 billion.
The highest surge values were found in Taylor County and Dixie County and devastation could have been worse if the Category 3 storm had hit during high tide.
The water inundated many structures along the coast as well as homes and businesses inland.
The water levels during the Category 3 storm were reported to be comparable to or higher than during the infamous Storm of the Century in 1993, but further comparison and analysis are needed to confirm this.
The weather service in Tampa Bay reported that in Cedar Key, the water level rose 6.89 feet above the ground during low tide due to the Category 3 storm. In Fort Myers, which is over 240 miles south, the water levels reached a little over 3.2 feet.
READ MORE| Hurricane Idalia sent the Gulf of Mexico surging up to 12 feet high on Florida coast
