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Hurricane Idalia
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Hurricane Idalia
Hurricane Idalia was a powerful and destructive tropical cyclone that caused significant damage across parts of the southeastern United States, especially North Florida, in late August 2023. The ninth named storm, third hurricane, and second major hurricane of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, Idalia formed from a low-pressure area that crossed Central America from the eastern Pacific Ocean. Gradual development ensued as it meandered in the western part of the Caribbean Sea; the system was upgraded to a tropical depression on August 26, 2023, and strengthened into a tropical storm a day later, receiving the name Idalia. It traversed the Gulf of Mexico where it underwent rapid intensification, briefly becoming a Category 4 hurricane before weakening and making landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida as a low-end Category 3 hurricane on August 30. Idalia remained a hurricane as it moved through Northern Florida and crossed into Southeast Georgia; it then pushed into the Carolinas as a tropical storm. On August 31, Idalia emerged into the Atlantic, where it transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone that same day. Later, it passed south of Bermuda, made a counterclockwise loop, then meandered off the coast of Nova Scotia while winding down.
Idalia caused significant damage to thousands of homes, businesses, and other infrastructure along its inland path, primarily in Florida, where winds and the resulting floodwaters were highest. Its storm surge was record-breaking from the Big Bend region south to Tampa Bay. In Tampa Bay roads were flooded over, and high waters submerged hundreds of cars. The system also spawned a tornado outbreak with around 12 confirmed tornadoes. Idalia was the most powerful hurricane to hit Florida's Big Bend region since Hurricane Easy in 1950. Five people died in storm-related incidents in the two states. The NCEI claims that Hurricane Idalia did $3.5 billion in damages. The hurricane's remnants produced dangerous rip currents across the Eastern United States during Labor Day Weekend, resulting in several additional deaths and numerous rescues.
On August 24, 2023, a trough of low pressure formed in the Eastern Pacific basin offshore of the Central America coast. The disturbance crossed over into the Atlantic basin the following day, and began to organize as it moved northward through the western Caribbean Sea. The pace of organization quickened on August 26, while the disturbance was located near the northeastern Yucatán Peninsula, and at 21:00 UTC it was upgraded to Tropical Depression Ten. Later that day, and into the next, the depression drifted due to weak surrounding steering currents, with its center moving in a small counterclockwise loop. The depression became Tropical Storm Idalia at 15:15 UTC on August 27, after a NOAA Hurricane Hunters flight reported that the storm's winds had increased to 40 mph (65 km/h). Early the next morning, Idalia began moving northward toward the Yucatán Channel west of Cuba, intensifying along the way despite being impacted by moderate northwesterly wind shear.
By 09:00 UTC on August 29, after passing near the western tip of Cuba, Idalia had developed an inner core and almost complete eyewall and the NHC upgraded the storm to a Category 1 hurricane. Later that day, Idalia began to rapidly intensify, reaching Category 2 strength as it benefited from exceptional conditions, with sea-surface temperatures of 88 °F (31 °C), generally low wind shear, and high relative humidity levels. Idalia continued to rapidly intensify as it accelerated northward off the Florida Suncoast and approached the Big Bend region, reaching its peak intensity of Category 4 strength on the morning of August 30, a few hours prior to landfall, with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 942 mbar (27.82 inHg). This marked a wind increase of 55 mph (89 km/h) during the 24 hour period ending at 09:00 UTC on August 30, making it one of fastest rates of tropical cyclone intensification ever observed in the Atlantic basin 24 hours before landfall. At its peak, the NHC described the system as having "a small eye surrounded by very cold clouds tops, especially in the western quadrant". Idalia's intensification was then halted by an eyewall replacement cycle, which caused it to weaken prior to landfall. Idalia made landfall at 11:45 UTC, about 20 miles (30 km) south of Perry, Florida, as a Category 3 hurricane, with sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 950 mbar (28.05 inHg).
The system quickly weakened inland as it pushed through North Florida, becoming a tropical storm later that day after crossing into Georgia. Strong southwesterly wind shear then pushed the storm's convection well north and east of its center as it moved off the northeastern South Carolina coast and emerged into the Atlantic Ocean on the morning of August 31. That afternoon, Idalia transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone about 65 miles (105 km) southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. As the storm moved to the east-southeast the following day, light wind shear along its path enabled the system to maintain its structure and intensity despite the lack of convection. The storm impacted Bermuda with tropical-storm-force winds on September 2, as it passed just to the south. Idalia's remnant low then absorbed Tropical Storm Gert on September 4 and lingered off the coast of Atlantic Canada for several days, before dissipating on September 8.
More than 10,000 people were evacuated from Pinar del Río and Artemisa provinces. Patients in Bahía Honda were evacuated to a local clinic after fearing flooding.
On August 28, hurricane warnings and storm surge warnings were issued for portions of the Florida's west coast. On August 29, the Storm Prediction Center issued a Day 1 convective outlook highlighting a level 2/slight risk of severe weather for portions of Florida associated with Idalia, with the SPC also issuing a 5 percent tornado risk. A Day 2 convective outlook was also issued concerning a level 2/slight risk and a 5 percent tornado risk for portions of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. A moderate risk of excessive rainfall was also issued by the Weather Prediction Center, for most of the same areas included in the Day 2 Convective outlook. A tornado watch was issued for portions of western Florida on August 29, as bands of thunderstorms from Idalia moved inland.
Amtrak terminated its two southbound Silver Service routes in Jacksonville, Florida on August 28 and cancelled both routes and its Auto Train service from August 29 to 30. The Palmetto route was truncated to Washington D.C. as well. At least 900 flights were cancelled across Florida and Georgia.
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Hurricane Idalia
Hurricane Idalia was a powerful and destructive tropical cyclone that caused significant damage across parts of the southeastern United States, especially North Florida, in late August 2023. The ninth named storm, third hurricane, and second major hurricane of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, Idalia formed from a low-pressure area that crossed Central America from the eastern Pacific Ocean. Gradual development ensued as it meandered in the western part of the Caribbean Sea; the system was upgraded to a tropical depression on August 26, 2023, and strengthened into a tropical storm a day later, receiving the name Idalia. It traversed the Gulf of Mexico where it underwent rapid intensification, briefly becoming a Category 4 hurricane before weakening and making landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida as a low-end Category 3 hurricane on August 30. Idalia remained a hurricane as it moved through Northern Florida and crossed into Southeast Georgia; it then pushed into the Carolinas as a tropical storm. On August 31, Idalia emerged into the Atlantic, where it transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone that same day. Later, it passed south of Bermuda, made a counterclockwise loop, then meandered off the coast of Nova Scotia while winding down.
Idalia caused significant damage to thousands of homes, businesses, and other infrastructure along its inland path, primarily in Florida, where winds and the resulting floodwaters were highest. Its storm surge was record-breaking from the Big Bend region south to Tampa Bay. In Tampa Bay roads were flooded over, and high waters submerged hundreds of cars. The system also spawned a tornado outbreak with around 12 confirmed tornadoes. Idalia was the most powerful hurricane to hit Florida's Big Bend region since Hurricane Easy in 1950. Five people died in storm-related incidents in the two states. The NCEI claims that Hurricane Idalia did $3.5 billion in damages. The hurricane's remnants produced dangerous rip currents across the Eastern United States during Labor Day Weekend, resulting in several additional deaths and numerous rescues.
On August 24, 2023, a trough of low pressure formed in the Eastern Pacific basin offshore of the Central America coast. The disturbance crossed over into the Atlantic basin the following day, and began to organize as it moved northward through the western Caribbean Sea. The pace of organization quickened on August 26, while the disturbance was located near the northeastern Yucatán Peninsula, and at 21:00 UTC it was upgraded to Tropical Depression Ten. Later that day, and into the next, the depression drifted due to weak surrounding steering currents, with its center moving in a small counterclockwise loop. The depression became Tropical Storm Idalia at 15:15 UTC on August 27, after a NOAA Hurricane Hunters flight reported that the storm's winds had increased to 40 mph (65 km/h). Early the next morning, Idalia began moving northward toward the Yucatán Channel west of Cuba, intensifying along the way despite being impacted by moderate northwesterly wind shear.
By 09:00 UTC on August 29, after passing near the western tip of Cuba, Idalia had developed an inner core and almost complete eyewall and the NHC upgraded the storm to a Category 1 hurricane. Later that day, Idalia began to rapidly intensify, reaching Category 2 strength as it benefited from exceptional conditions, with sea-surface temperatures of 88 °F (31 °C), generally low wind shear, and high relative humidity levels. Idalia continued to rapidly intensify as it accelerated northward off the Florida Suncoast and approached the Big Bend region, reaching its peak intensity of Category 4 strength on the morning of August 30, a few hours prior to landfall, with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 942 mbar (27.82 inHg). This marked a wind increase of 55 mph (89 km/h) during the 24 hour period ending at 09:00 UTC on August 30, making it one of fastest rates of tropical cyclone intensification ever observed in the Atlantic basin 24 hours before landfall. At its peak, the NHC described the system as having "a small eye surrounded by very cold clouds tops, especially in the western quadrant". Idalia's intensification was then halted by an eyewall replacement cycle, which caused it to weaken prior to landfall. Idalia made landfall at 11:45 UTC, about 20 miles (30 km) south of Perry, Florida, as a Category 3 hurricane, with sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 950 mbar (28.05 inHg).
The system quickly weakened inland as it pushed through North Florida, becoming a tropical storm later that day after crossing into Georgia. Strong southwesterly wind shear then pushed the storm's convection well north and east of its center as it moved off the northeastern South Carolina coast and emerged into the Atlantic Ocean on the morning of August 31. That afternoon, Idalia transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone about 65 miles (105 km) southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. As the storm moved to the east-southeast the following day, light wind shear along its path enabled the system to maintain its structure and intensity despite the lack of convection. The storm impacted Bermuda with tropical-storm-force winds on September 2, as it passed just to the south. Idalia's remnant low then absorbed Tropical Storm Gert on September 4 and lingered off the coast of Atlantic Canada for several days, before dissipating on September 8.
More than 10,000 people were evacuated from Pinar del Río and Artemisa provinces. Patients in Bahía Honda were evacuated to a local clinic after fearing flooding.
On August 28, hurricane warnings and storm surge warnings were issued for portions of the Florida's west coast. On August 29, the Storm Prediction Center issued a Day 1 convective outlook highlighting a level 2/slight risk of severe weather for portions of Florida associated with Idalia, with the SPC also issuing a 5 percent tornado risk. A Day 2 convective outlook was also issued concerning a level 2/slight risk and a 5 percent tornado risk for portions of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. A moderate risk of excessive rainfall was also issued by the Weather Prediction Center, for most of the same areas included in the Day 2 Convective outlook. A tornado watch was issued for portions of western Florida on August 29, as bands of thunderstorms from Idalia moved inland.
Amtrak terminated its two southbound Silver Service routes in Jacksonville, Florida on August 28 and cancelled both routes and its Auto Train service from August 29 to 30. The Palmetto route was truncated to Washington D.C. as well. At least 900 flights were cancelled across Florida and Georgia.
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