Lucky with Idalia

 We were very lucky! We survived with no flooding. Others were not so fortunate. 

August 29th, we watched Idalia intensify as she barreled up the Gulf of Mexico and passed us by mid afternoon. The water rose to just over our dock.  But Idalia wasn't over by a long shot.

The black dot shows the predicted tide height about 3 PM when Idalia passed by about 160 miles offshore.  Major Lucky Stroke #1 - Idalia stayed offshore. Major Lucky Stroke #2 - Idalia moved North up the Gulf at about 16 mph reducing time for surge to build.  Major Lucky Stroke #3 - Idalia's tail, a good it of it anyway,  came through as the tide fell and then only rose to only a mid-tide. The red dot show the predicted tide at about 2 AM. 

At 2 AM I woke up to simultaneous flashes of lightening and booming of thunder. Hard rain swept down the street sideways.  The water was over the canal wall up to the base of our power pole (connection for power to boat and lift). Big palm fronds broke off.  Joanne went back to bed; I stayed up to see what would happen next. 

                                          Water Level at 5 AM

Break - enter Dexter, Judy's cat. We are keeping Dexter while Judy is Australia and New Zealand. Dexter is big, maybe 30 pounds. He likes to sleep. But more than sleep he likes to eat! Dexter hung out and patiently watched NBC2 with me. About 5 AM, he started to whine, crawl all over me and stare straight into my face, impatient for his wet food treat which he devours instantly!  

Back to Idalia.  At 5 AM, time of mid tide, the water level was only up to the base of the power pole and Idalia, now a major hurricane, was well passed us and nearing the Big Bend of Florida, a couple hundred miles away.  But Idalia kept coming. 

Or Canal at 7 AM

Check out the 7 AM radar image above. Idalia made landfall in the Big Bend about 7:45 AM.  The outer bands NE quadrant extend almost to the North Carolina border and the tail end to the latitude of Key Wesr.  Bands of rain kept coming all morning and into the afternoon but the storm surge subsided as the tide rose keeping the water level just at the top of the sea wall, no more.

On my way to SVdP in the morning, I saw houses along Aqui Esta that were flooded.  The 41 bridges were reported closed due to flooding in Punta Gorda. Don't know yet how many restaurants and shops flooded along Marion.  Flooding reported in Venice, Sarasota and Clearwater.   

Business was slow at SVdP with both volunteers and clients missing in action so I left early at 10:30. 

              Idalia in Georgia but more rain still on the way for us.

                                                              Barge Tied Up in Our Canal

4 PM  - Water level is down but still over the dock. Wind down to 18 kts SW, less gusty. Sprinkling just a little.  We pickup Michele at 8 PM at RSW.  Dexter is still asleep in the closet.  No doubt, he will be harnessing me at 6 AM tomorrow morning!  

With the Gulf so hot, I believe we will continue to see storms going from nothing but thoughts in the minds of the meteorologists to major hurricanes in just a few days.  Our insurance rates are bound to go up just as fast. Ours has already doubled!