MIAMI, FL (352today.com) – You have to go back to 1896 and the Cedar Key Hurricane to find a storm next in line in impact to 2023’s Hurricane Idalia.

In that historic 19th century storm, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recorded Cedar Key received a storm surge of 10.5 feet above mean sea level and Yankeetown got the worst inundation with about 12.6 feet of surge. Some estimates indicated wind speeds of 125 miles just north of Cedar Key. Close to 100 people lost their lives mainly due to the storm surge.

In 1950, Hurricane Easy was nothing like its name. NOAA records show Hurricane Easy parked over the Tampa Bay area for days dropping torrential rains, causing damage especially in Cedar Key where it eventually made landfall. The scientists say it then did a loop just offshore causing Cedar Key to experience the same side of the hurricane twice including the 125 mph winds that came with it. The storm dumped 38.7 inches of rain in 24 hours, a record for the U.S.

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According to NOAA, people who didn’t leave Cedar Key during Hurricane Easy sought refuge on the island’s highest point at the middle and high school. The records show about 150 of Cedar Key’s 200 buildings lost roofs and were submerged. Three lives were lost to electrocution from fallen live wires.

Hurricane Idalia
On Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center released its Tropical Cyclone Report for Hurricane Idalia (August 26-31, 2023).

The report says Idalia reached category 4 strength over the eastern Gulf of Mexico and made landfall as a category 3 hurricane along the Florida Big Bend near Keaton Beach. It produced a maximum storm surge of 8 to 12 feet above ground level along the Florida Big Bend from Keaton Beach to Steinhatchee and 6 to 9 feet south to the Suwanee River. Cedar Key saw 7 feet of surge. Fortunately, the highest surge was in unpopulated wetlands and forests.

 

The report shows Idalia might have been worse if not for a last-minute weakening. Idalia winds decreased just after reaching category 4 status. Meteorologists believe the weakening was likely due to an eyewall replacement cycle that began just after it reached peak intensity.

Though that may not be much relief to the thousands of people who lost their homes and businesses to Hurricane Idalia.