Storm surges are anticipated along the Southeastern coast throughout the night due to the progression of Tropical Storm Idalia, maintaining tropical storm-force winds at 60 mph, as reported by the National Weather Service (NWS) at 11 p.m. ET. NWS also predicts coastal flooding within the Storm Surge Watch areas of North Carolina on Thursday.
Idalia, positioned 15 miles northwest of Charleston, South Carolina, has led to road closures in Charleston due to flooding, with police urging drivers to respect barricades and avoid standing water.
Idalia's impact has prompted Citrus County in Florida to enforce a mandatory curfew in evacuation Zone A from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. local time, with warnings against venturing into standing water and the potential hazards concealed within. Restoration efforts are underway, with road closures persisting on the county's west side.
Jacksonville initiates cleanup operations following Hurricane Idalia's passage. Power outages, fallen trees, and downed power lines remain areas of concern. Jacksonville's schools are set to close for cleanup, resuming classes on Friday.
Idalia, initially a Category 3 hurricane, made landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast as the strongest storm to do so in the Big Bend region in over 125 years. It has since weakened to a tropical storm, progressing through the Southeast and causing flash flood warnings in parts of Georgia.
North and South Carolina have issued states of emergency, with North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper urging residents to take precautions, and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster expressing relative confidence in comparison to past hurricanes.
Power outages have left over 460,000 customers without electricity in Florida and Georgia, while Idalia claimed a life in Georgia as a falling tree struck a man.
Crystal River, heavily affected by the hurricane, remains resilient despite damage, and the center of Idalia is moving through South Carolina, with sustained winds of 65 mph and surge impacting the Carolinas' coast.
Pasco County experienced major flooding, with emergency services rescuing approximately 150 residents, who disregarded evacuation orders, from inundated neighborhoods.
A firsthand account of a hurricane hunter flight describes the intense turbulence and the pilot's adept navigation through the storm, experiencing rapid shifts in category levels and eight hours within the eye of the storm.
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