Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region as a major Category 3 hurricane. It then moved northeastward, moving into southern Georgia, before pushing into the Atlantic off of the southeast US coast.
Every event with a place to put it; 12 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS MLB wrote it up.
Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region as a major Category 3 hurricane. It then moved northeastward, moving into southern Georgia, before pushing into the Atlantic off of the southeast US coast. The storm brought widespread tropical storm-force gusts to east central Florida and the adjacent waters, especially from Brevard and Osceola Counties northward. Rainfall was minimal, with the highest amount of 3.67 inches reported in Seminole County. Totals were around 3 inches from the Orlando metro northward. There were no reported tornadoes and the angle to the coast limited coastal erosion. There was one direct fatality.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Melbourne, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 29, 8:25 PM EST, 4 hours 35 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Melbourne FL
925 PM EDT Tue Aug 29 2023
.DISCUSSION...
...Additional Hurricane Idalia Squalls Will Approach from the
Southwest Overnight...
...Tornado Threat Increasing Overnight Into Early Wednesday,
Especially North/West of I-4...
Current-Overnight...Hurricane Idalia is now on a steady pace of 16
mph toward the N/NNE and continuing to strengthen. The first of the
storm's outer rain bands went through the area late this afternoon-
early evening. A brief lull in activity with additional squalls from
Idalia expected to move up from the southwest overnight. A Tornado
Watch has been issued overnight for all of Lake County. The threat
diminishes south/east, but it will not be zero. Additional shower
and storm threats overnight include torrential downpours, gusty
winds of 45-55 mph in strongest activity, and occasional lightning
strikes. Preparations for tropical storm conditions should be
complete at this time, with worsening weather expected over the next
12 hours.
As Idalia continues northward over the eastern Gulf of Mexico
overnight, its strong wind field and pressure gradient will affect
much of the Florida Peninsula, including areas in east-central
Florida. Sustained winds after midnight are forecast to reach 15 to
25 mph with gusts of 30 to 40 mph, with the highest winds over Lake,
far western Orange, and western Volusia/Seminole counties. Of course
the threat for stronger wind gusts will exist in passing squalls.
These locations will be in closer proximity to the center of
Hurricane Idalia overnight and into the morning hours on Wed.
Squalls bringing gusty to damaging winds and heavy rainfall will
continue through the overnight hours, though there will be periods
of dry time mixed in between the activity.
It is important to have multiple ways to receive tornado warnings if
they are issued, especially during the nighttime hours. If a tornado
does form, it will be move quickly and allow little time to react.
Have your tornado safety plan in place and wireless emergency alerts
(WEA) turned "on"!
Wednesday-Wednesday Night...Previous...Idalia is forecast to move
onshore along the FL Big Bend region Wednesday morning as a major
hurricane, and continue to move rather quickly, around 15 to 20 mph,
toward the north-northeast as it gradually weakens back to a
tropical storm. Low level S/SW wind fields increase rapidly on the
eastern side of Idalia across east-central FL through the morning,
with tropical storm force sustained winds or frequent gusts to
tropical storm force for Osceola and Brevard counties northward
through Lake and Volusia County, where a Tropical Storm Warning
remains in effect. A tight pressure gradient between Idalia and
ridge to the southeast will still produce windy conditions across
the entire area through Wednesday afternoon. Even though the storm
will be moving well north of the area at that time, gusty conditions
will remain through sunset.
Rain chances will remain high with outer bands of Idalia moving
north to northeast across the region. Squalls will be capable of
producing strong to damaging wind gusts, especially across those
counties under a Tropical Storm Warning. The threat of tornadoes
will also continue in these outer band squalls, as 0-1km SRH
values will increase up to 200-250 m2/s2 and continue through the
afternoon. Localized heavy rainfall will be a concern with higher
amounts possible where squalls are more frequent, especially near
and northwest of I-4. Increasing clouds and coverage of rainfall
will keep highs generally in the mid to upper 80s, but some low
90s may be possible along the Treasure Coast.
As Idalia continues to pull away Wednesday night, there will be a
gradual decrease in winds and coverage of showers/storms through
early morning Thursday. It will remain warm and muggy into
tomorrow night with lows only forecast to fall into the upper 70s.
&&
.MARINE...Overnight...Poor to hazardous boating conditions will
continue to develop into early Wed as Hurricane Idalia continues to
strengthen and tracks northward across the eastern GoMex. Expect
southerly winds increase to 15-25 kts into late night and further to
20-30 kts by daybreak Wed. Combined swells from distant Major
Hurricane Franklin, along with a tightening pressure gradient, will
build seas up to 4-7 ft overnight, increasing to 6-8 ft by sunrise
(offshore, north of Jupiter Inlet).
Tropical Storm Warnings remain in effect for the waters north of
Sebastian Inlet. To the south, Small Craft Advisories remain in
effect. Increasing coverage and intensity of outer bands from Idalia
are expected overnight into Wed. In addition, long-period swells
from Franklin will make their way into our local waters.
Wed-Wed Night...Previous...Idalia is forecast to make landfall along
the FL Big Bend region as a major hurricane, lifting north-northeast
through the day and into the evening. S/SW winds freshen on the
eastern side as the system makes it closest approach to the area,
with Tropical Storm force winds or frequent gusts forecast across
the local waters from Cape Canaveral northward, with strong SCA
conditions (20-30kt) to the south. Moderate long period swells from
distant Major Hurricane Franklin will continue to propagate into the
local Atlantic through the day, with increasing winds from Idalia
leading to combined seas up to 7-9 feet...possibly higher for a
brief time. Expect higher winds/seas in numerous fast-moving
squalls, with a few tornadic (supercell) waterspouts likely.
&&
.AVIATION...A lull in activity mid-late evening, ahead of an
increasing threat overnight of additional squalls moving up from the
southwest and into ECFL, ahead of strengthening Idalia. Conditions
will continue to deteriorate overnight into Wed as the (major)
hurricane advances north and the pressure gradient increases, on top
of the associated squalls. Breezy-Windy-Gusty conditions areawide on
Wed. Gusts of 30-35 kts will be common with higher (brief) gusts in
squalls. Gradual improvement Wed evening-overnight as winds diminish
and coverage/intensity of precip dissipates.
&&
.MLB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...Tropical Storm Warning for FLZ041-044>046-053-141-144-247-347-
447-547-647-747.
Tornado Watch until 6 AM EDT Wednesday for FLZ044-144.
AM...Tropical Storm Warning for AMZ550-552-570-572.
Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT Wednesday for AMZ555-575.
&&
GRIDS/AVIATION...Sedlock
TROPICAL...Watson/Law
RADAR...PendergrastHazardous Weather Outlook...Updated National Weather Service Melbourne FL 836 PM EDT Tue Aug 29 2023 AMZ550-552-555-570-572-575-FLZ041-044>046-053-058-141-144-154-159- 164-247-254-259-264-347-447-547-647-747-301000- Flagler Beach to Volusia-Brevard County Line 0-20 nm-Volusia- Brevard County Line to Sebastian Inlet 0-20 nm- Sebastian Inlet to Jupiter Inlet 0-20 nm-Flagler Beach to Volusia- Brevard County Line 20-60 nm-Volusia- Brevard County Line to Sebastian Inlet 20-60 nm- Sebastian Inlet to Jupiter Inlet 20-60 nm-Inland Volusia- Northern Lake-Orange-Seminole-Osceola-Okeechobee-Coastal Volusia- Southern Lake-Coastal Indian River-Coastal Saint Lucie- Coastal Martin-Inland Northern Brevard-Inland Indian River- Inland Saint Lucie-Inland Martin-Mainland Northern Brevard- Northern Brevard Barrier Islands-Inland Southern Brevard- Mainland Southern Brevard-Southern Brevard Barrier Islands- 836 PM EDT Tue Aug 29 2023 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. The National Hurricane Center is currently issuing advisories on Hurricane Idalia. Please refer to the Hurricane Local Statement for detailed threat and impact information for east central Florida. In addition, you can visit www.weather.gov/mlb/hti for more information. .THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... Isolated to scattered lightning storms will be possible overnight associated with rainbands from Idalia. Movement will be from the southwest toward the northeast. A Tornado Watch has been issued for the overnight period for Lake County. Primary storm threats include torrential downpours, gusty winds locally of 45 to 55 mph, occasional lightning strikes. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out especially for Lake County. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. A HIGH risk of rip currents and rough surf will continue through at least mid week, as long-period swells from distant Hurricane Franklin move into the local Atlantic waters. After Idalia moves northeast of the local area, high coverage of showers and lightning storms looks to persist over east central Florida through at least the end of the work week. Increasing temperatures may also lead to heat concerns. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters should closely monitor weather conditions and activate as weather approaches. Sedlock
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Melbourne FL
937 PM EDT Tue Aug 29 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0310 PM Rip Currents 1 S Daytona Beach Shore 29.16N 80.98W
08/29/2023 AMZ550 FL Lifeguard
*** 1 Inj *** A 68 yr old female visitor was witnessed
struggling in the surf. After rescue and attempts to
revive, she was transported in unresponsive condition to
a local hospital.
&&
Event Number MLB2300538
JPThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
12 tropical storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Hurricane Idalia's landfall along the Big Bend region led to widespread tropical storm force wind gusts through the day. The peak wind gust was 40 knots at the Leesburg International Airport. No damage was reported.
Hurricane Idalia's landfall along the Big Bend region led to widespread tropical storm force wind gusts through the day. The peak wind gust was 36 knots at the Orlando International Airport. No damage was reported.
Hurricane Idalia's landfall along the Big Bend region led to widespread tropical storm force wind gusts through the day. The peak wind gust was 44 knots at the Kissimmee Gateway Airport. No damage was reported.
Hurricane Idalia's landfall along the Big Bend region led to widespread tropical storm force wind gusts through the day. The peak wind gust was 40 knots at the Orlando Sanford International Airport. No damage was reported.
Hurricane Idalia's landfall along the Big Bend region led to widespread tropical storm force wind gusts through the day. The peak wind gust was 31 knots at the Deland Municipal Airport. No damage was reported.
Hurricane Idalia's landfall along the Big Bend region led to widespread tropical storm force wind gusts through the day. The peak wind gust was 39 knots at the Daytona Beach International Airport. No damage was reported.
Hurricane Idalia's landfall along the Big Bend region led to widespread tropical storm force wind gusts through the day. The peak wind gust at the nearby Space Coast Regional Airport was 33 knots. No damage was reported.
Hurricane Idalia's landfall along the Big Bend region led to widespread tropical storm force wind gusts through the day. The peak wind gust at the Space Coast Regional Airport was 33 knots. The Weatherflow site near Titusville in the Indian River measured a peak wind gust of 40 knots. No damage was reported.
Hurricane Idalia's landfall along the Big Bend region led to widespread tropical storm force wind gusts through the day. The Weatherflow site near Titusville in the Indian River measured a peak wind gust of 40 knots. US Space Force Tower 0403 measured a 50 knot wind gust. No damage was reported.
Hurricane Idalia's landfall along the Big Bend region led to widespread tropical storm force wind gusts through the day. The peak wind gust at the Space Coast Regional Airport was 33 knots. The Weatherflow site in the Banana River at 520 measured a 47 knot wind gust, as did Trident Pier, and the site at the Cocoa Beach Club measured a 43 knot wind gust. No damage was reported. One direct fatality occurred when a 60 year old man was windsurfing and drowned near Kelly Park in Merritt Island.
Hurricane Idalia's landfall along the Big Bend region led to widespread tropical storm force wind gusts through the day. The peak wind gust at the Melbourne Orlando Airport was 43 knots. No damage was reported.
Hurricane Idalia's landfall along the Big Bend region led to widespread tropical storm force wind gusts through the day. The peak wind gust at the Melbourne Orlando Airport was 43 knots. No damage was reported.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm, Southern Brevard Barrier Islands | 2023-08-30 | 60 | Male | In Water | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, August 2023The 2023 hurricane season
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1119034, 1119041, 1119043, 1119044, 1119045, 1119049, 1119052, 1119057, 1119062, 1119067, 1119069, 1119070.