Hurricane Idalia damage photos, flooding, aftermath in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas

How bad was Hurricane Idalia? How big was Hurricane Idalia? Where is Idalia?

Those were the most popular questions this week in Florida and beyond. Idalia made landfall about 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30, near Keaton Beach, in the Big Bend area of Florida, as a Category 3 hurricane. Idalia downgraded from a Category 4 that morning before landfall.

Here's a look back at Idalia storm damage photos in Florida before the hurricane then tropical storm moved on to Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Keaton Beach, Florida, as a powerful Category 3 storm

Hurricane Idalia coverage, Weather Channel star Jim Cantore in Cedar Key, Florida

Cedar Key was trending earlier this week when Weather Channel meteorologist Jim Cantore, his producer Steve Petyerak and their team traveled there to cover Hurricane Idalia.

#JimCantore and messages like, "where in the world is Jim Cantore?" consumed social media Aug. 27 and 28 when the National Hurricane Center predicted Idalia would make landfall in Florida. On Monday, Aug. 29, Cantore boarded a flight with coincidentally Ken Block of the rock band Sister Hazel ("All for You," "Champagne High") from Atlanta International Airport to Gainesville, according to a Facebook post from Block. From there, the Weather Channel star headed to Cedar Key, ate dinner at Steamers restaurant, then reported on Idalia for much of the week.

Idalia was a big storm. But how did it compare to Hurricane Michael, Andrew, Florence and Irma?

Hurricane Idalia photos in Big Bend, Gulf Coast of Florida

Hurricane Idalia damage photos in Steinhatchee, Florida

Hurricane Idalia damage in Sarasota, Florida

Hurricane Idalia damage in Sarasota County and Manatee County, Florida

The state of Colorado. That's about how big an area Hurricane Idalia covered at landfall

Crushed cars? Hurricane Idalia effects in Cross City, Florida

Hurricane Idalia coverage in Brevard County: Lots of wind, swells

Hurricane Idalia effects in Indian River County, St. Lucie County and Martin County, Florida

Hurricane Idalia cleanup and recovery in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina

After landfall in Florida, Hurricane Idalia caused damage in Savannah, Georgia

Tropical Storm Idalia damage in Augusta, Georgia

Photos: Why Weather Channel host Jim Cantore's known for Florida hurricanes, storms and thundersnow

Hurricane Idalia damage in Statesboro, Georgia, and Bulloch County, Georgia

Tropical Storm Idalia damage in Wilmington, North Carolina

Tropical Storm Idalia flooding in Cape Fear, North Carolina

Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: How bad was Hurricane Idalia? Storm damage pics from Big Bend, beyond