Caribbean Storm Idalia will be passing across the Carolinas and heading back into the Atlantic Ocean, leaving Florida in its wake. According to the National storm core‘s advisory at 8 p.m., Idalia’s core will be traveling along or close to South Carolina’s coast through Wednesday night after making landfall as a Category 3 storm near Keaton Beach on Florida’s west coast in the morning.
The majority of the severe, deadly weather that Idalia brought to Florida is now gone, while the system may still bring a small amount of storm surge to the state. However, after the storm, coastal cities along Florida’s Gulf Coast continued to flood. Where is Idalia now, then? Where is it headed? The forecast track looks like this:
Where is Idalia Now?
According to the 8 p.m. advisory, Tropical Storm Idalia had maximum sustained winds of close to 65 mph and was located about 60 miles west of Charleston, South Carolina. Winds from a tropical cyclone can be felt up to 205 miles away.
Where is Idalia Going?
According to the hurricane center, Idalia has already sprinted out of Florida and Georgia and is still moving northeast at 21 mph. Idalia is expected to travel along South Carolina’s coast before heading close offshore of North Carolina on Thursday, according to the forecast track.
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The weekend will then see it migrate to the east. Additionally, once the storm travels over land Wednesday night, it will continue to diminish. It becomes more challenging to forecast the severity of the storm as the center returns to the Atlantic since it may interact with some stronger winds.
Idalia may develop into a post-tropical storm, but for the next five days, the hurricane center will continue to monitor it as a tropical storm. See the National Hurricane Center’s official tweet below:
5am Thu 31 Aug Key Messages for Tropical Storm #Idalia. Flooding due to heavy rains & coastal flooding due to strong winds on the backside of Idalia will continue across coastal North Carolina through today. https://t.co/y75tVkKnUz pic.twitter.com/WhpDOWMKNk
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 31, 2023
What Type of Weather Will It Bring?
A look at the weather:
Storm Surge
The storm surge watches and warnings along Georgia’s coast and Florida’s Gulf Coast were canceled. A watch and warning are still in effect for the Carolinas, though. Said the hurricane center:
“The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large waves,”
Winds
Through Thursday, tropical storm conditions are anticipated over the northeastern coasts of Georgia and South Carolina. On Wednesday night, these winds will reach North Carolina.
Rain
From east-central Georgia through central to eastern South Carolina and eastern North Carolina through Thursday, Idalia is expected to bring 4 to 8 inches of rain, with some isolated locations receiving up to 10 inches. With “considerable impacts,” flash, urban, and moderate river flooding are all possibilities.
Hurricane Idalia Watches and Warnings
- Tropical storm warning: Volusia/Brevard County Line to the North Carolina/Virginia border; Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds
- Storm Surge Warning: St. Catherine’s Sound Georgia to South Santee River South Carolina.
- Storm Surge Watch: Beaufort Inlet to Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina; Neuse and Pamlico Rivers, North Carolina
