Tropical Storm Idalia keeps pounding the Southeast’s Atlantic coast, prompting flash flood warnings in North Carolina as parts of Florida’s west coast survey extensive damage from the most powerful hurricane to slam its Big Bend region in more than a century.
Named for the trees that once covered the islands, Cedar Key, Florida, is located about four miles out in the Gulf of Mexico and connected to the mainland by a single road that crosses over four small, low bridges.
Hurricane Idalia intensified early Wednesday into a dangerous Category 3 storm and is expected to strengthen further before a potentially catastrophic morning collision into Florida’s west coast – where numerous residents have been told to flee, schools are closed and the National Guard is preparing for rescues.
Hurricane Idalia has intensified into a dangerous Category 4 hurricane, packing monster winds of 130 mph as it turns streets to rivers along Florida’s western shore ahead of an expected landfall Wednesday morning on the state’s Gulf Coast.
Hurricane Idalia is now thrashing much of northern Florida and south Georgia, whipping winds up to 90 mph, dumping heavy rain and hurling seawater into flooded cities as its impacts a 250-mile swath of the Southeast.