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

Idalia, now a tropical storm, touched down in Florida as a Category 3 hurricane.

Last Updated: August 31, 2023, 8:37 PM GMT

Idalia touched down in Florida's Big Bend region on Wednesday morning as a powerful Category 3 hurricane -- the strongest hurricane to ever make landfall in the Apalachee Bay.

Idalia has since weakened into a tropical storm and moved inland over Georgia and the Carolinas.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Aug 30, 2023, 6:23 AM GMT

Idalia strengthens into Category 3 hurricane

Idalia strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane early Wednesday as maximum sustained wind speeds reached 120 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service.

"Idalia rapidly intensifies into a major hurricane," the National Weather Service warned in its latest advisory.

The storm is forecast to strengthen further, becoming a Category 4 hurricane before it makes landfall later Wednesday morning on Florida's Big Bend coast, north of Tampa.

"Idalia is likely to still be a hurricane while moving across southern Georgia, and possibly when it reaches the coast of Georgia or southern South Carolina late today," the National Weather Service said.

-ABC News' Asia James

Aug 30, 2023, 4:46 AM GMT

Idalia expected to reach wind speeds of at least 130 mph

Hurricane Idalia is now forecast to make landfall as a Category 4 storm around 8 a.m. ET Wednesday. It’s expected to have winds in excess of 130 mph, with the most extreme winds passing just southeast of Tallahassee.

Hurricane Idalia's predicted path as of midnight.
ABC News

By Wednesday night, around 8 p.m. ET, Idalia is expected to be a Category 1 storm and pass near Savannah, Georgia. Late Wednesday night will also likely see Idalia pass directly over Charleston, South Carolina, either as a Category 1 or a tropical storm.

-ABC News’ Kenton Gewecke

Aug 30, 2023, 3:21 AM GMT

Idalia forecast to make landfall in Florida as Category 4 hurricane

Idalia is still strengthening and is forecast to be at "extremely dangerous Category 4 intensity" when it makes landfall, the National Weather Service said late Tuesday.

As of 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Idalia remains a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained wind speeds at 110 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service.

The storm's landfall track is for an area near Perry and St. Marks at around 8 a.m. ET. The northern part of the eye wall may move very close to Tallahassee.

-ABC News' Kenton Gewecke

Aug 30, 2023, 2:26 AM GMT

Tornado watch issued for parts of Florida

A tornado watch has been issued until 6 a.m. ET for 3.7 million people in the western peninsula of Florida.

This means tornadoes are possible to form in the outer bands of Hurricane Idalia through the night.

-ABC News' Kenton Gewecke

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