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WATCH: Hurricane Idalia Makes Landfall In Florida

Published

1 year ago

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Hurricane Idalia, a category 4 storm, made landfall on Florida’s west coast. The particular area in Florida that the hurricane hit was the lightly populated Big Bend region. The National Weather Service in Tallahassee said that this trajectory by the hurricane was “an unprecedented event” given that there is no record of a major hurricane passing through the Big Bend region. The hurricane was recently upgraded from a category 3 storm to 4.

Hurricane strength is ranked on a scale of five categories, which are based on wind speeds and estimated damage of the storm in question. A higher ranking means the storm is stronger. Hurricanes start at a category 3. Hurricane Ian, which hit Florida last year, had winds that were 2mph shy of being classified as a category 5 storm.

Category 4 storms are described as being able to deal catastrophic damage that upends trees and power polls causing weeks to months-long power shortages. Well-built homes’ roofs and walls can be dealt severe damage in this category. Combined, all these factors set to make an area uninhabitable for a period of weeks to months.

Idalia was able to gain such strength so quickly due to the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, where it originated from. Residents of the affected area were ordered to vacate as authorities warned of “catastrophic storm surge and destructive winds.”

Various videos underscore the strength of the hurricane:

 

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All of the videos underscore the sheer wind speed of the storm. The strength of the wind in the last video in particular drowns out much of Dr. Reed Timmer’s commentary. “We are in Cedar Key, Florida, right along the coastline,” reported Dr. Timmer, a storm chaser. When he next could be heard, Dr. Timmer said, “We are now going to retreat to our shelter as the storm surge is getting a lot worse out here.”

An X user noted the same problem that the winds made it hard to hear Timmer’s commentary. “We need subtitles,” demanded the X user.

Another video by Reed Timmer underscores the storm “causing structural damage and blowing out the doors of condo complex.”

He later reported that “Dangerous storm surge continues in Cedar Key, FL with strong westerlies on the backside of Hurricane Idalia. Here is the peak storm surge.” Various large objects of debris can seen floating in the video.

Another storm chaser Aaron Jayjack observed that “FIERCE Hurricane Idalia has blown out” one of his rear view mirrors “as I penetrated the wall into the eye between Perry and Salem, Florida.” He reported that “Power is out, trees and power lines down.”

 

 

 



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