WATCH: Cedar Key, Perry pounded with rain, wind, storm surge as Hurricane Idalia strikes Florida

A rapidly intensifying Hurricane Idalia began pounding Cedar Key and Perry with rain and storm surge even before it made landfall near Keaton Beach in the Big Bend area of Florida. Sustained winds of 47 mph were measured on the small island community before 7 a.m.. Idalia was briefly a Category 4 but dropped back down due to land interaction and eyewall replacement.

Just after 10 a.m. the Weather Channel's Jim Cantore reported a record 6.9 foot storm surge in Cedar Key. The National Hurricane Center is forecasting a potential storm surge of 12-16 feet.

Here's what people are seeing. NOTE: If you are in the path of Idalia, please do not risk your life to get cool video. Stay safe.

Live state updates: Hurricane Idalia approaches Florida landfall; winds at 125 mph

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Hurricane Idalia: Rain, storm surge swamps Cedar Key, Perry in Florida