In Final Hours Before Landfall, Hurricane Idalia Stopped Intensifying and Turned From Tallahassee

In this photo made in a flight provided by mediccorps.org, National Guardsmen and other first responders gather on a road leading to Keaton Beach and Dark Island, (back L ), near Fish Creek, Fla., following the passage of Hurricane Idalia, on Aug. 30, 2023. Rebecca Blackwell/AP

ATLANTA—In the final hours before Hurricane Idalia struck Florida the storm had grown into a Category 4 beast lurking off the state’s west coast, and the forecast called for it to continue intensifying up until landfall.

An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft had recorded winds up to 130 mph (215 kph), the National Hurricane Center said in an ominous bulletin at 6 a.m. Wednesday.