Live Cameras: Watch Hurricane Idalia Approach FL, Make Landfall

FLORIDA — Hurricane Idalia is projected to make landfall in Florida early Wednesday as a Category 3 storm, bringing heavy rains, damaging winds and destructive storm surge to parts of the state's Gulf Coast — and weather-curious Floridians can watch the hurricane approach without leaving the safety of their homes.

Idalia is on target to hit Florida's Big Bend area near Dixie and Taylor counties early Wednesday, according to National Hurricane Center forecasters. The National Weather Service in Tallahassee called Idalia “an unprecedented event” since no major hurricanes on record have ever passed through the bay abutting the Big Bend region.

On the island of Cedar Key, Commissioner Sue Colson joined other city officials in packing up documents and electronics at City Hall. She had a message for the almost 900 residents who were under mandatory orders to evacuate the island near the coast of the Big Bend region. More than a dozen state troopers went door to door warning residents that storm surge could rise as high as 15 feet.

“One word: Leave,” Colson said. “It’s not something to discuss.”

For those evacuating or others wishing to check in on parts of Florida during the major storm, live cameras dotted along the Gulf Coast will likely catch a clear view of the system as it slams into the Sunshine State.

Here is a handful of live beach cameras to follow:

• Cedar Key Beach webcam
• Earthcam in Bradenton Beach
• Earthcam in Englewood Beach
• Frenchy's Clearwater Beach camera
• Island House Beach Resort in Siesta Key
• Miramar Beach
• Oskaloosa Island
• Palazzo Beach Cam in Panama City
• Pelican Pete waterfront webcam in St. Pete
• Santa Rosa Beach
• Siesta Key Beach
• St. George Island Beach camera
• Tampa Bay Riverfront webcam
• White Sands Beach Resort in Holmes Beach

The Associated Press contributed to this report.