9:45am EDT – #Idalia continues to move inland. Hurricane force wind gusts continue on the western edge of the eye wall. Additionally, very heavy rain will likely cause flash flooding as it moves into south-central Georgia over the next few hours. #FLwx pic.twitter.com/glb5fvzqM8
— NWS Tallahassee (@NWSTallahassee) August 30, 2023
WFLA Tampa report, above.
Major storm surge in Horseshoe Beach, FL from Hurricane Idalia. [Before/After] pic.twitter.com/njzchmVmyc
— Nahel Belgherze (@WxNB_) August 30, 2023
Rapid intensification, something we have seen a lot of in recent years.
The expectations for #Idalia to rapidly intensify prior to landfall were met and exceeded. The intensity increased by 50 kt (58 mph) from 5am Tue to 5am Wed, and by 30 kt (35 mph) just from 11pm Tue to 5am Wed. It's now a Category 4 hurricane and is about to make landfall. pic.twitter.com/lppjsHDjWF
— Brian McNoldy (@BMcNoldy) August 30, 2023

16 feet! That’s about 5 meters for us in Europe.
Yes folks, #ClimateBreakdown is real and it’s happening right now across the planet.
And no, this is not caused by arson.
I’ve recently encountered someone on another blog who pulled the “CO2 is plant food” crap (re-spun as “the planet is greening“). Well, now I can point out that plants need water, and floods bring water, so flooding is good, too.
It’s desperate stuff. Imagine the pain caused by all that cognitive dissonance!
But still they cling on to their beliefs because to face reality would shatter their fragile worldviews.
Alas they will face oblivion with the false certainty of the lunatic as the tide rises over them on a full moon; howling with rage and miserable as hell.
As for the water, it’s going to be salty, so not much will grow except the saltwater alligators in the swamps and good luck to them!
Inland flash floods (Vermont, WVa, tropical storm rainfall) are still fresh water floods. Storm surge, not so much.
(I grew up in New Orleans with experience in street flooding from heavy rains. After the levees failed from Katrina’s surge I saw what additional damage salty water brings: Drain-hole covers and old iron fences were coated in rust like I’d never seen before.)
Fortunately, much of the salt and the stench were washed away by the “Rita rinse” a few weeks later.