Hurricane Idalia Hits Florida's Gulf Coast| VOA News

A major highway was flooded in Florida as Hurricane Idalia neared the state, Aug. 30, 2023.

👉 The southeastern U.S. state of Florida braced Wednesday for the landfall of Hurricane Idalia, now a Category 4 storm, with forecasters expecting coastal areas to experience “catastrophic storm surge inundation.”

Idalia dumped heavy rain on #Florida as the center of the #storm approached the state’s Gulf coast with maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometers per hour.

The National Hurricane Center said Idalia strengthened Category 4—the second strongest level—hours ahead of its expected landfall in the Big Bend region.

Areas most directly affected by the storm surge could see inundation three to five meters above ground level.

Authorities ordered mandatory evacuations in eight counties in the storm’s path, with people in 14 other counties encouraged to leave. #idalia #hurricaneidalia #florida #news #voanews