Hurricane Idalia made landfall near Keaton Beach, Fla., on Wednesday as a Category 3 storm before it was downgraded to a tropical storm. Georgia and South Carolina could see heavy wind and flooding
Tropical storm Idalia battered the southeastern U.S. coastline late Wednesday night after slamming into Florida earlier in the day as a major hurricane and rolling through parts of Georgia and South Carolina.
The National Hurricane Center said a storm surge warning was in effect from the Savannah River northward to the South Santee River in South Carolina. Idalia was about 15 miles north-northwest of Charleston, S.C. and packing winds of up to 60 mph, the center said.
The storm initially slammed into Florida’s Gulf Coast at about 7:45 a.m. as a Category 3 hurricane with 125 mph winds — tied as the strongest to hit the Big Bend area of the Big Bend region of the state. Idalia remained a hurricane as it tore into Georgia with winds at 90 mph. It eventually slowed and was downgraded to a tropical storm as it reached South Carolina.
Idalia still remained a serious threat late Wednesday night. Forecasters cautioned the „risk of freshwater flooding, storm surge and strong winds continues across portions of Georgia and the Carolinas.“
„On the forecast track, the center of Idalia will move near or along the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina through tonight, and then just offshore the coast of North Carolina on Thursday,“ the NHC said.
Residents of the Carolinas have also been warned of potential tornadoes in the region.
Throughout Wednesday, heavy rains and gusty winds and rains lashed the region, leaving hundreds of businesses and entire neighborhoods submerged in water.
