Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida on the morning of August 30, 2023, near Keaton Beach in the Big Bend region, where the Florida peninsula meets the panhandle. It struck with maximum sustained winds of about 125 mph, classifying it as a strong Category 3 hurricane at landfall
. The storm caused a historic and devastating storm surge along the coastal communities of Taylor and Dixie Counties, with surge heights forecasted to reach 12 to 16 feet in some areas, including Cedar Key and Steinhatchee. This surge led to significant flooding and damage along the northeast Gulf Coast of Florida
. After landfall, Idalia moved inland across northern Florida, bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall well into interior and northeastern parts of the state, with impacts extending into southern Georgia. The hurricane warnings and storm surge threats were particularly focused on the Big Bend region and the adjacent coastal areas
. In summary, Hurricane Idalia hit Florida at Keaton Beach in the Big Bend region, causing major storm surge and wind damage primarily along the northeast Gulf Coast and moving inland across northern Florida
