Tropical Storm Idalia now over southern South Carolina, National Hurricane Center says
Hurricane Idalia made landfall at 7:45 a.m. near Keaton Beach as a powerful Category 3 storm. Maximum sustained winds were 125 mph when the eye moved onshore, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Earlier Wednesday morning, Idalia briefly reached Category 4 status with 130-mph winds. It weakened to a tropical storm early Wednesday evening.
As of 8 p.m. Wednesday, Idalia was located over South Carolina and is expected to continue moving east and northeast over land before moving over the Atlantic this weekend, the NHC said.
➤ Spaghetti models for Hurricane Idalia
At 8 p.m., the center of Idalia was over southern South Carolina. Florida's Gulf Coast is still experiencing high water levels behind by the hurricane.
Highlights from the 8 p.m. advisory include:
A Tropical Storm Warning has been discontinued south of Altamaha Sound, Georgia to the Flagler/Volusia County, Florida line.
Heavy rain is spreading across southern Georgia and portions of the Carolinas. The risk of freshwater flooding, storm surge and strong winds continues across portions of Georgia and the Carolinas.
The center of Idalia is now located about 60 miles west of Charleston, South Carolina.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 49 counties, a broad swath that stretches across the northern half of the state from the Gulf Coast to the Atlantic Coast.
Live updates across Florida: Hurricane Idalia closing in on Florida landfall with Category 4 punishing winds
Final Idalia forecast: An impact breakdown based on your city for deadly wind and surge
Where is Keaton Beach, Florida?
Hurricane Idalia made landfall near Keaton Beach with 125-mph winds at 7:45 a.m. Aug. 30.
Keaton Beach is located in Florida's Big Bend region. It's about 75 miles southeast of Tallahassee or 100 miles west of Gainesville.
Where is Keaton Beach? 5 things to know as Hurricane Idalia makes landfall
Tropical Storm Idalia: Latest location over South Carolina
Location: 60 miles west of Charleston, South Carolina
Maximum sustained winds: 65 mph
Movement: northeast at 21 mph
Pressure: 985 mb
Special note on the NHC cone: The forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time.
WeatherTiger: Hurricane Idalia surge will be 'difficult to survive' in areas of Florida Big Bend
Live updates from Tallahassee: Category 4 Hurricane Idalia closes in
At 8 p.m., the center of Tropical Storm Idalia was located 60 miles west of Charleston, South Carolina.
Idalia is moving toward the northeast near 21 mph and this general motion is expected to continue through tonight. A generally eastward motion is forecast to begin on Thursday and continue through Saturday.
On the forecast track, the center of Idalia will move near or along the coast of South Carolina through tonight, and then just offshore of the coast of North Carolina on Thursday. Idalia will then move eastward over the western Atlantic into the weekend.
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 65 mph with higher gusts. Some additional weakening is forecast through tonight, but Idalia is expected to remain a tropical storm while it moves near the coasts of South Carolina and North Carolina.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 205 miles from the center. A sustained wind of 39 mph and a gust to 50 mph were recently reported at Folly South End, South Carolina, near Charleston.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 985 mb.
Watches and warnings issued for Tropical Storm Idalia
For an explanation of what the watches and warning mean, scroll to the bottom of this story.
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for…
St. Catherine's Sound, Georgia to South Santee River, South Carolina
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…
Altamaha Sound, Georgia northward to the North Carolina/Virginia border
Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for…
Beaufort Inlet to Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina
Neuse and Pamlico Rivers, North Carolina
Weather alerts issued across Florida
Spaghetti models for Hurricane Idalia
Powerful storm surge impacts Florida
STORM SURGE: The combination of storm surge and tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide:
Savannah River to South Santee River, SC...3-5 ft
Saint Catherines Sound, GA to Savannah River...2-4 ft
Beaufort Inlet, NC to Ocracoke Inlet, NC...2-4 ft
Neuse and Bay Rivers...2-4 ft
Pamlico and Pungo Rivers...2-4 ft
South Santee River, SC to Beaufort Inlet, NC...1-3 ft
Ochlockonee River, FL to East Cape Sable, FL...1-3 ft
Tampa Bay...1-3 ft
Charlotte Harbor...1-3 ft
Flagler/Volusia County Line, FL to Saint Catherines Sound, GA...1-3 ft
Ocracoke Inlet, NC to Duck, NC...1-3 ft
The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.
WIND: Tropical storm conditions are occurring within the tropical storm warning area along the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina, and will spread across coastal sections of North Carolina tonight through Thursday.
RAINFALL: Idalia is expected to produce a swath of 4 to 8 inches of rainfall with isolated maxima up to 10 inches from east-central Georgia through central to eastern South Carolina and eastern North Carolina into Thursday. These rainfall amounts will lead to areas of flash, urban, and moderate river flooding, with considerable impacts. The trailing moisture band from Idalia has the potential to produce additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches across the west coast of Florida.
SURF: Swells generated by Idalia along the eastern and central Gulf coast will subside tonight and Thursday. Swells will affect the southeastern U.S. coast during the next few days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
TORNADOES: A few tornadoes will be possible through this evening across coastal South Carolina and through tonight across southern coastal North Carolina.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Idalia downgraded to tropical storm, now over southern South Carolina
