Hurricane Idalia (2023)

Basin

North Atlantic

Dates

August 26, 2023 to September 8, 2023

Peak strength

Category 4, 115 kt (132 mph)

Lowest pressure

942 mb (27.82 inHg)

Landfall

Yes

Accumulated cyclone energy

7.1

Tropical-storm-force wind reached

240 nmi (444 km, 276 mi) from the center at its widest

Hurricane-force wind reached

20 nmi (37 km, 23 mi) from the center at its widest

Eyewall radius at its peak

10 nmi (19 km, 12 mi)

Overall size

300 nmi (556 km, 345 mi) to the outermost closed isobar

Peak gust in the best track

130 kt (150 mph)

Fastest the center moved

22 kt (25 mph)

Identifier

AL102023

Radar at KTLH as it neared land, Aug 30, 11:45 UTC

The sources count different things and are not added together.

Landfall points the US agencies flagged in the best track. The nearest town is named from the site’s gazetteer, not from the report.

NOAA’s Storm Events database, the record National Weather Service offices compile months after a storm, as compiled March 2026.

Deaths

4 (2 direct, 2 indirect)

Injuries

13

Property damage

$112 million

Crop damage

$338 million

Events recorded

323 in 30 reports from 7 states and marine areas

State by state

What was recorded

132 tropical storm, 65 flash flood, 19 thunderstorm wind, 18 storm surge/tide, 16 marine tropical storm, 13 tornado, 12 tropical depression, 11 hurricane (typhoon), 10 heavy rain, 6 flood, 5 marine hurricane/typhoon, 5 marine tropical depression, 3 waterspout, 3 coastal flood, 2 marine thunderstorm wind, 1 astronomical low tide, 1 funnel cloud, 1 strong wind.

13 tornadoes and 3 waterspouts recorded in the United States, strongest first.

The strongest winds National Weather Service offices recorded with this storm. An estimated figure is a forecaster’s judgment from the damage, not an instrument reading.

From the Storm Events narratives, unedited.

Tropical storm force winds, mostly in gusts associated the passage of rain bands well to the east of Hurricane Idalia's center, occurred along the reef tract south of the Middle Florida Keys. Maximum sustained winds were measured at 35knots with gusts to 51 knots at the navigational light at Sombrero Key.

Hawk Channel From Craig Key To West End of Seven Mile Bridge Out To The Reef, Gulf of Mexico · Marine Tropical Storm · Aug 29, 17:15 UTC

Tropical storm force winds, mostly in gusts associated the passage of rain bands well to the east of Hurricane Idalia's center, occurred along the reef tract south of the Upper Florida Keys. Maximum sustained winds were measured at 40 knots with gusts to 47 knots at Alligator Reef Light and sustained 38 knots gusting to 48 knots at Carysfort Reefr Light.

Hawk Channel From Ocean Reef To Craig Key Out To The Reef, Gulf of Mexico · Marine Tropical Storm · Aug 29, 19:30 UTC

Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 55 to 65 mph, with a maximum gust of 61 mph near Charlotte Harbor at 1:49 AM EST on August 30. Rainfall ranged from 4 to 7 inches, with a maximum total of 6.11 inches near Harbour Heights. A peak water level of 3.57 feet above MHHW was measured at North Port Charlotte at 5:45 AM EST on August 30. Peak water levels estimated elsewhere along coastal Charlotte County generally ranged from 2 to 4 feet above MHHW. Elevated water levels affected areas along the immediate waterfront. US 41 was closed at Peace River Bridge due to flooding in downtown Punta Gorda, and 12 roadways were impassable due to saltwater inundation. 66 structures had major damage, and 14 had minor damage, with power outages affecting over 14,000.

Coastal Charlotte, Florida · Tropical Storm · Aug 30, 06:00 UTC

Hurricane Idalia's landfall along the Big Bend region led to widespread tropical storm-force wind gusts over the Atlantic waters of east central Florida. The Daytona Beach International Airport measured a 39 knot peak wind gust. Buoy 41009 in the offshore Brevard waters measured wind gusts to 37 knots and seas to around 8 feet. Similar conditions likely occurred in the nearshore waters of Volusia County.

Flagler Beach To Volusia-Brevard County Line 20-60nm, Atlantic South · Marine Tropical Storm · Aug 30, 09:00 UTC

Tropical storm force wind gusts and flash flooding impacted the county on 8/30. At 1232 am, a 41 mph wind gust was measured at the ASOS station at the Bacon County Airport. By 1316, a public rain gauge measured 4.84 inches of storm total rainfall about 3 miles NNW of Alma. Several other reports of 4-5 inches fell within the city limits of Alma. Numerous gauges measured 4-5 inches of rainfall from Alma to Nichols to Douglas near the Highway 32 corridor. By 1325, a public weather gauge about 7 miles north of Alma along New Hope Church Road measured 5.53 inches of storm total rainfall. At 1522, the ASOS at the Bacon County Airport measured a 47 mph (KAMG) then at 1553 the ASOS measured a 56 mph wind gust.

Bacon, Georgia · Tropical Storm · Aug 30, 11:00 UTC

Glynn County Coast: At 7:39 am, a 43 mph wind gust was reported at ASOS station KSSI Brunswick. At 10:55 am, a Wind Gust of 41 mph was recorded at AWOS station KBQK Brunswick Golden Isles Airport. At 11:33 am, a 52 mph wind gust was recorded at ASOS station KSSI Brunswick. At 12:55 pm, a 55 mph wind gust was reported at Mesonet station XJEK on Jekyll Island, GA. At 1:53 pm, a 56 mph wind gust was reported at ASOS station KSSI Brunswick. At 2:35 pm, a 55 mph wind gust occurred at AWOS station KBQK Brunswick Golden Isles Airport. At 2:31 pm, a 67 mph wind gust reported at ASOS station KSSI Brunswick. At 2:53 pm, a 66 mph wind gust was reported at ASOS station KSSI Brunswick.

Altamaha Sd To Fernandina Beach Fl Out 20nm, Atlantic South · Marine Tropical Storm · Aug 30, 11:39 UTC

A storm damage survey completed by the Liberty County, Georgia Emergency Management Agency and collaborated with the National Weather Service confirmed an EF0 tornado with an estimated maximum wind speed of 85 mph in Liberty County occurring from 900 AM EST to 903 AM EST. The weak and brief tornado, associated with Hurricane Idalia, began about 0.5 miles east-southeast of Mount Olive Church Road in a very rural area. The tornado moved rapidly toward the northwest, ending just west of Mount Olive Church Road. Along its very short path, the tornado snapped the top of at least one pine tree, uprooted at least one other tree, broke some small to medium branches and destroyed a small wood shed.

Liberty, Georgia · Tornado · Aug 30, 14:00 UTC

The National Weather Service in collaborative efforts with emergency management confirmed an EF0 tornado with an estimated maximum wind speed of 75 mph in Berkeley County occurring from 1122 AM EST to 11:23 AM EST. Video evidence helped confirm a very brief and weak tornado developing within an outer rainband of Hurricane Idalia touching down near the intersection of Camelot Drive and South Goose Creek Boulevard, flipping one car on South Goose Creek Boulevard. Police reported two people inside the flipped vehicle were transported to the hospital for minor injuries.

Berkeley, South Carolina · Tornado · Aug 30, 16:22 UTC

A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team confirmed an EF1 tornado with an estimated maximum wind speed of 95 mph in Berkeley County occurring from 359 PM EST to 404 PM EST. The tornado, associated with the outer rainbands of Hurricane Idalia, began just south of Eccles Church Road over Muddy Creek. As the tornado approached Eccles Church Road, it snapped and uprooted several large hardwood and softwood trees. The tornado then continued north-northwest into a heavily wooded area where it sporadically snapped and uprooted many trees, before continuing a north-northwest track over another wooded, marshy region, producing minor damage to some trees. The tornado then ended near Irishtown Road. In addition to the ground survey, high resolution satellite imagery was used to fine tune the track of the tornado over remote locations.

Berkeley, South Carolina · Tornado · Aug 30, 20:59 UTC

A waterspout spawned by Tropical Storm Idalia came ashore and became a tornado near Tidalwalk Drive and lifted near Country Place Road in southern New Hanover County. An NWS Storm Survey found numerous oak trees and pine trees snapped or uprooted along the tornado`s path. A tree fell on a storage shed and one home had a piece of aluminum cornice pulled away from the home.

New Hanover, North Carolina · Tornado · Aug 30, 23:31 UTC

The combination of surface high pressure centered over the eastern Great Lakes and Tropical Storm Idalia lifting northeast then east off the North Carolina outer banks, resulted in very strong northeast winds which caused minor to moderate (tidal) coastal flooding over portions of Virginia Beach. Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel reached 5.51 feet MLLW at 930 am on Thursday, August 31.

Virginia Beach, Virginia · Coastal Flood · Aug 31, 11:30 UTC

The combination of surface high pressure centered over the eastern Great Lakes and Tropical Storm Idalia lifting northeast then east off the North Carolina outer banks, resulted in very strong northeast winds which caused moderate to major (tidal) coastal flooding over portions of Currituck county adjacent to the Atlantic coast. Duck reached 6.52 feet MLLW at 842 pm on Thursday, August 31.

Eastern Currituck, North Carolina · Coastal Flood · Aug 31, 12:00 UTC

The combination of surface high pressure centered over the eastern Great Lakes and Tropical Storm Idalia lifting northeast then east off the North Carolina outer banks, resulted in very strong northeast winds which caused minor to moderate (tidal) coastal flooding over portions of Northampton county adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay. Kiptopeke reached 5.05 feet MLLW at 942 am on Thursday, August 31.

Northampton, Virginia · Coastal Flood · Aug 31, 12:10 UTC

Street flooding was first reported around 2:46 pm near Main Street and near the 500 block of 32rd Avenue in Gainesville. A mesonet station about 2 miles SE of Gainesville measured 2.8 inches of rainfall in one hour at 2:45 pm. At 3:14 pm, Fire Rescue reported flash flooding was developing along NW 23rd Avenue in Gainesville. At 3:16 pm, at public weather station measured around 4.5 inches of rainfall about 1 mile SE of Gainesville since 1:45 pm. At 3:35 pm, a CoCoRaHS station about 2 miles SE of Gainesville measured 4.47 inches since 1:52 pm which created flooding conditions. By 4 pm, the county 911 dispatch center reported several roads within about a 10 block radius in Gainesville experienced significant flash flooding. There were some road closures at the time of the report.

Alachua, Florida · Flash Flood · Sep 1, 19:14 UTC

• Unnamed tropical stormNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm60 kt · 976 mb
• Tropical Storm ArleneNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm35 kt · 998 mb
• Tropical Storm BretNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm60 kt · 996 mb
• Tropical Storm CindyNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm50 kt · 1004 mb
• Hurricane DonNorth Atlantic · 2023Cat 165 kt · 986 mb
• Tropical Storm EmilyNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm45 kt · 998 mb
• Tropical Storm GertNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm50 kt · 998 mb
• Hurricane FranklinNorth Atlantic · 2023 · 3 deathsCat 4130 kt · 926 mb
• Tropical Storm HaroldNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm50 kt · 995 mb
• Tropical Storm JoseNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm55 kt · 996 mb
• Tropical Storm KatiaNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm50 kt · 998 mb
• Hurricane LeeNorth Atlantic · 2023 · 4 deathsCat 5145 kt · 926 mb
• Hurricane MargotNorth Atlantic · 2023Cat 180 kt · 969 mb
• Hurricane NigelNorth Atlantic · 2023Cat 285 kt · 958 mb
• Tropical Storm OpheliaNorth Atlantic · 2023 · $450 millionTropical Storm60 kt · 981 mb
• Tropical Storm PhilippeNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm50 kt · 998 mb
• Tropical Storm RinaNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm45 kt · 999 mb
• Tropical Storm SeanNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Storm40 kt · 1005 mb
• Hurricane TammyNorth Atlantic · 2023Cat 295 kt · 965 mb
• Unnamed tropical depressionNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Depression25 kt · 1007 mb
• Unnamed tropical depressionNorth Atlantic · 2023Tropical Depression30 kt · 1004 mb

A best track is the record a warning agency settles on after the storm, not what it said at the time: position, maximum sustained wind and central pressure every six hours, revised against every observation that came in later. Category is the Saffir-Simpson scale, which runs from Category 1 at 64 kt to Category 5 at 137 kt and reads wind only, so it says nothing about surge or rain. Accumulated cyclone energy adds up the square of the wind through the storm's life, so it counts strength and duration together.

Storm history from NOAA NCEI’s International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS), which merges the official best track of every warning agency. Live storms, cones, watches and warnings from the National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Archived radar from NOAA’s Level II archive.

• Tropical cyclone report, National Hurricane Center
• Every advisory and discussion NHC issued while it was live
• Best track as KMZ, National Hurricane Center
• Best track as a shapefile, National Hurricane Center
• Wikipedia article: Hurricane Idalia