3 hurricanes have made landfall in Taylor County in 13 months

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Three hurricanes, two of which were major hurricanes, have made landfall in Taylor County in the last 13 months.

Hurricane Idalia made landfall near Keaton Beach on Aug. 30, 2023, according to the National Weather Service. Idalia made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane with winds of about 125 mph.

The National Weather Service said coastal Taylor and Dixie counties received 7 to 12 feet of storm surge, which could have been worse if the storm didn’t make landfall during low tide.

Idalia was the first major hurricane recorded to have made landfall in this area of the Big Bend, the NWS said. But just over one year later, an even stronger Category 4 hurricane made landfall in the same area.

Hurricane Helene made landfall near the mouth of the Aucilla River, according to the National Hurricane Center. Helene made landfall with winds of about 140 mph.

Some areas of the Big Bend were forecast to see storm surge of up to 20 feet.

About seven weeks before Helene, Hurricane Debby made landfall in Taylor County near Steinhatchee. Debby made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane before crossing Georgia and entering the Atlantic off the South Carolina coast.

All three storms brought significant impacts to the Tampa Bay area.

Helene left a path of devastation along many of the barrier islands along the Gulf Coast, with storm surge records broken by about 2 feet, according to the NHC.

Since 2015, 22 hurricanes have made landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida. Four of them have been this year.

Nine major hurricanes have made landfall on the Gulf Coast since 2017.

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