Hurricane Idalia unleashes fury on Florida as Category 3 storm

More than 230,000 were without electricity as trees snapped by strong winds brought down power lines and rushing water covered streets

A man checks the water level as he drives on flooded Bayshore Blvd., after storm surge from Hurricane Idalia flooded the road Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. Picture: AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

Hurricane Idalia made landfall on Florida’s west coast as a catastrophic Category 3 storm on Wednesday, and unleashed life-threatening storm surges and rainfall across an area that has never before received such an onslaught.

More than 230,000 customers were without electricity as trees snapped by strong winds brought down power lines and rushing water covered streets.