Tropical Storm Idalia descends on NC, causes widespread flooding in coastal SC

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Tropical Storm Idalia descended on the Carolinas on its way out to the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday, leaving a trail of flooding and destruction throughout the Southeast.

Idalia briefly strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane earlier Wednesday morning before making landfall in Florida’s Big Bend around 8 a.m. as a dangerous Category 3.

Idalia was downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved over Georgia and the Carolinas. Impacts locally in metro Atlanta were minimal.

The Florida county sheriff where Hurricane Idalia made landfall as a Category 3 storm says so far there have been no reported deaths or serious injuries. But Taylor County Sheriff Wayne Padgett said Wednesday that could change once authorities search the small towns along the beach.

About 280,000 Florida customers were without power Wednesday afternoon, the vast majority in the Big Bend region.

In southern Georgia, Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk says a falling tree killed a man who was trying to clear a roadway as the storm tore through the area. About 225,000 customers were without power in Georgia Wednesday evening.

Atlanta News First has crews in Florida and on the Georgia Coast with continuing coverage on Idalia. Download the First Alert Weather App to track storms and get severe weather alerts wherever you are.

LIVE UPDATES:

Thursday 8/31

5 a.m. | So where’s Idalia now? The Tropical Storm descended on the Carolinas on its way out to the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday. The storm is expected to roll off into the ocean through the weekend.

Wednesday 8/30

11:05 p.m.

9 p.m.

7 p.m.

Tropical Storm Idalia began moving towards coastal Georgia and the Carolinas.

6 p.m. |

5:05 p.m. | Tybee Island FD confirms a person was taken to hospital after a sign was peeled off a building and landed on a news crew on the island.

4:50 p.m. | According to the National Hurricane Center, Idalia has been downgraded to a tropical storm.

2:43 p.m. | The National Weather Service said Idalia is moving across southeastern Georgia. Flash and river flooding is likely across Georgia and the eastern Carolinas through Thursday.

2:30 p.m. |

1:30 p.m. | Although weakening, the worst of Hurricane Idalia is moving through south Georgia in Douglas.

12 p.m. | Gov. Kemp held a news conference on the impacts in Georgia. He said about 61,000 were currently without power. The storm entered Georgia around 10 a.m. and it should move out of the state around 8 p.m. Some areas are seeing 9-10 inches of rain from Idalia. The governor said he feels confident they’ll be able to move crews in to assist hard-hit areas as soon as the storm leaves the state. He said shelters are set up all over the state to help.

WATCH THE FULL PRESS CONFERENCE BELOW:

11:51 a.m. | Gov. Kemp is expected to give an update on the impacts in Georgia around noon.

11:21 a.m. | Idalia is currently moving through Valdosta and will continue to batter South Georgia with hurricane-force winds.

11:20 a.m. | First Alert Meteorologist Cutter Martin shows us how the conditions are getting worse along the Georgia Coast.

11:12 a.m. | Winds are growing stronger on Tybee.

11:05 a.m. | Eye of Idalia moves into southern Georgia. The storm is now a Category 1 hurricane with 90 mph winds.

11 a.m. | Idalia was 2 miles south of the Georgia/Florida border.

10:40 a.m. | Power lines reportedly down on I-75 in Lowndes County, GA. This heavily impacts travel in South Georgia.

10:20 a.m. | A man was killed in Gainesville while driving in extremely rainy conditions, according to WCJB, our sister station in Gainesville.

10:19 a.m. | Already starting to see some minor damage on Tybee Island.

10:10 a.m. | The city of Valdosta advised everyone to shelter in place.

10:06 a.m. | The weather is gradually getting worse in South Georgia.

10 a.m. | Idalia is down to a Category 2 hurricane with 110 mph winds.

9:30 a.m. | Reporter Joshua Skinner gives us an update from Lake City, Florida.

8:30 a.m. | First Alert Meteorologist Courteney Jacobazzi joined us live from Perry, Florida as the eyewall of Hurricane Idalia moved into the area after making landfall Wednesday morning.

8 a.m. | Here are the conditions right now in Lake City, Florida as Idalia makes landfall.

7:56 a.m. | As Idalia makes landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast, First Alert Meteorologist Cutter Martin shows us what the conditions look like on Tybee Island.

7:56 a.m. | The wind and rain pick up in Perry, Florida as Hurricane Idalia makes landfall.

7:45 a.m. | Extremely dangerous Category 3 Hurricane Idalia makes landfall in the Florida Big Bend. Maximum sustained winds were estimated to be 125 mph. Catastrophic storm surge and damaging winds ongoing.

7:37 a.m. | Idalia is nearing Perry, Florida.

7:12 a.m. | Hurricane force winds reported in Perry, Florida.

7 a.m. | Idalia goes back down to a Category 3 hurricane with 125 mph winds.

6:34 a.m. | Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gives a LIVE update on major Hurricane Idalia.

6 a.m. | At 6 a.m., Hurricane Idalia was located about 55 miles west-northwest of Cedar Key Florida, moving 17 mph with 130 mph winds.

5:30 a.m. | A dry morning is expected in Atlanta with rain increasing throughout the metro this afternoon due to Hurricane Idalia.

5:27 a.m. | Savannah/Tybee Island upgrades to a Hurricane Warning with a Storm Surge Warning in effect along the Georgia Coast. However, there’s no evacuation order in effect for much of the GA coast.

5 a.m. | Idalia strengthens to a major Category 4 hurricane as it bears down on Florida.

RELATED STORIES:

• Hurricane Idalia hits Florida with 125 mph winds, flooding streets, snapping trees and cutting power
• Idalia causes power outages, storm debris in Savannah
• Idalia downgraded to a tropical storm as it moves up Georgia coast
• Photos: Damage from Hurricane Idalia across Georgia, Florida
• Gov. Kemp declares state of emergency for all of Georgia ahead of Hurricane Idalia
• Chatham County, City of Savannah declare local state of emergency ahead of Idalia
• Tybee Island preparing for Idalia impacts, Highway 80 expected to close Wednesday night
• Home Depot activates emergency response center in Atlanta ahead of Hurricane Idalia
• Red Cross, Georgia Power mobilize in preparation for Hurricane Idalia
• Atlanta Motor Speedway opens camping facilities to Idalia evacuees
• See inside Atlanta-based Waffle House ‘war room’ ahead of Hurricane Idalia

Copyright 2023 WANF. All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this article.