Idalia updates: Damaging tornadoes, severe flooding from Florida to Carolinas

Idalia is forecast to strengthen to a hurricane on Monday and may become a major hurricane by Tuesday night.

Landfall is currently forecast for 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Wednesday in Florida's Big Bend region.

Storm surge is expected to be a major threat and could reach as high as 11 feet in the Big Bend area.

Up to 1 foot of rain could drench the Florida Panhandle and tornadoes are possible in Tampa and Orlando.

Idalia will move north Wednesday afternoon and evening, bringing heavy rain and potential flash flooding to Georgia and the Carolinas. Idalia will head out to sea on Thursday.

-ABC News' Max Golembo

Idalia is currently forecast to make landfall along Florida's Big Bend region between Apalachicola and Tampa as a Category 3 hurricane. If this happens, it will mark the strongest landfall for the Big Bend region since 1950, when Category 3 Hurricane Easy made landfall in Cedar Key.

No hurricanes have ever made landfall in the Big Bend region stronger than Category 3.

If Idalia makes landfall as a Category 2, it will be the first in the region since Gladys in 1968.

-ABC News' Kenton Gewecke

As Idalia approaches, the Pasco County School District, north of Tampa, said its schools will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Schools in Hillsborough County, which encompasses Tampa, will also be closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

President Joe Biden spoke with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Monday morning and told the governor he's approving an emergency declaration for the state, according to the White House.

"President Biden said Florida will have his full support as they prepare for Idalia and its aftermath," the White House said.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency "has pre-deployed personnel and assets, including multiple Incident Management Assistance Teams," according to the White House. "FEMA’s National Response Coordination Center has also been fully activated to support any requests for federal assistance."

-ABC News' Justin Gomez