Idalia, now a tropical storm, churned over eastern North Carolina on Thursday morning, unleashing gusty winds and heavy rainfall as far as southern Virginia.

Meanwhile, a storm surge and coastal flooding was hitting North Carolina and its Outer Banks barrier islands.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the Carolinas, mostly for North Carolina.

Idalia is forecast to move out to sea by Thursday afternoon, taking the winds and rain with it.

The storm could bring gusty winds and heavy rain to Bermuda by late Sunday into early Monday.

-ABC News' Max Golembo

There were at least three reported tornadoes on Wednesday after Idalia made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in Florida and moved northeast across Georgia and the Carolinas as a tropical storm.

Two tornadoes were reported in South Carolina and one in Florida, with damage to structures and vehicles.

Wind gusts got up to 86 miles per hour in Mayo, Florida; 67 mph in Valdosta, Georgia; and 52 mph in Savannah, Georgia, according to the National Weather Service.

Meanwhile, as Idalia moved further inland, it produced some of the worst storm surge on record that flooded coastal cities from Florida to the Carolinas.

The highest storm surge -- up to 6.83 feet -- was recorded in Cedar Key, Florida. Tampa Bay, Florida, got hit with 4 to 5 feet, the highest storm surge since a 1921 hurricane. Charleston, South Carolina, saw 3.47 feet, the fifth highest storm surge on record, which flooded streets and neighborhoods, according to the National Weather Service.

A flash flood emergency was reported in Valdosta, Georgia.

The highest rainfall total -- 9.97 inches -- was recorded in Statesboro, Georgia. Hampton, South Carolina, got 9.61 inches of rain while Citrus Springs, Florida, had 9.48 inches. Rain was still coming down in North Carolina on Thursday morning and the state has recorded 6 to 10 inches so far, according to the National Weather Service.

-ABC News' Max Golembo

As Tropical Storm Idalia rages on, it’s now centered northwest of Charleston, South Carolina, and has sustained winds of 60 mph while moving at 21mph to the northeast. The storm is producing very heavy rain over the Carolinas, according to the National Weather Service.

A tornado watch remains in effect until 4 a.m. ET for the North Carolina coast, but South Carolina is removed from this watch.

The tide in Charleston, South Carolina, is believed to be the fifth-highest peak tide on record, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

The tide level at Charleston Harbor peaked at 3.47 feet "mean higher high water," or 9.23 feet "mean lower low water," Wednesday evening, according to NWS.

-ABC News' Kenton Gewecke

Gov. Ron DeSantis said there is "significant damage" throughout the Big Bend region, with Columbia, Madison and Dixie counties hardest hit.

"There is, of course, a lot of debris to clean up. But we will get working with that with the local communities to make sure that the roads are cleared and people can go back to their lives," DeSantis said during a press briefing.

As of 6 p.m. there is one unconfirmed fatality due to the storm involving a traffic incident that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is reviewing, the governor said.

"That may end up being a confirmed fatality, it has not been confirmed yet," DeSantis said.

Thirty of the 52 school districts that closed due to the storm will reopen Thursday, and an additional eight will reopen on Friday, the governor said.

-ABC News' Hannah Demissie and Will McDuffie