Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida on the morning of August 30 near Keaton Beach, located in the Big Bend region where the Florida peninsula meets the panhandle. It struck with sustained winds of around 115 to 125 mph, classified as a Category 3 hurricane at landfall
. The storm caused severe damage in this area, including life-threatening storm surges reaching up to 16 feet along the coast, particularly affecting Taylor and Dixie Counties
. The Big Bend region, including communities such as Steinhatchee, Perry, Dekle Beach, Horseshoe Beach, and Cedar Key, experienced catastrophic storm surge and destructive winds
. The storm's impact extended inland across northern Florida, with damaging winds and heavy rainfall affecting a wide central portion of the state, including areas near Tallahassee, Columbia County, and Madison County
. After crossing Florida, Idalia moved northeast into Georgia and the Carolinas, continuing to bring hazardous conditions along its path
. In summary, Hurricane Idalia hit Florida primarily at the Big Bend region near Keaton Beach with severe storm surge and hurricane-force winds, impacting both coastal and inland areas of northern Florida
