Tropical Storm Idalia Carolinas Flooding : Tropical Depression Idalia continues to strike the Southeast Atlantic coast. The newest indicator of weather-related instability is worsening. Hurricane Irma was the strongest hurricane to hit Big Bend in over a century, and western Florida villages are still recovering. North Carolina is warning of sudden flooding.
Florida received its first Category 3 hurricane. After that, it destroyed power lines in southern Georgia and South Carolina, leaving hundreds of thousands without electricity. This move increased the risk for vulnerable coastal towns.
In a meeting on Thursday morning, the National Hurricane Center warned that storm surge and tides might flood coastal areas that rarely experience water. As the water rises, shoreline areas may be washed off.
Most of the 25 inches of rain in the southern corridor of North Carolina fell in Wilmington. National Weather Service warns Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, and Pender of flash flooding. North Carolina has these counties. The advisories also referenced storms, albeit the chance was low.
The storm slammed Keaton Beach in Big Bend, Florida, earlier. This area is between the Panhandle and Peninsula. This allowed the hurricane to cause much damage. The severe storm blasted waves along the state’s western coast, knocking roofs off and flooding homes.
Also Read : Florida Community Reels After Idalia: Navigating the Aftermath of Significant Flooding
Rep. Jared Moskowitz of the US shed light on financial issues in many of the hardest-hit areas. Moskowitz added, “Many of these communities are financially tight, and they don’t have the tools they need to deal with a storm of this size.” He felt the calamity would change some places’ environments and identities permanently.
The government ordered a wide-ranging evacuation from Tampa Bay to Big Bend before the hurricane. Georgia and South Carolina, including Charleston, and North Carolina, especially Wilmington, had short but intense floods and power disruptions due to the storm. The storm damaged Florida, cut power to many, and flooded Georgia and South Carolina.
When the government closed flooded highways in Charleston, trees suffered “arboreal carnage”. National Weather Service: Edisto Beach, South Carolina, beaches damaged.
At least one death has been attributed to Ida. Even though Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called it a “unconfirmed death,” Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Steve Gaskins uncovered two deaths in two crashes from the storm. The storm killed both. A man in Lowndes County, Georgia, was killed when a tree he was working on fell on him as he was working on another tree near to a road.
The Pamlico, Albemarle, and South Santee Rivers in South Carolina were still under tropical storm alerts Thursday morning. The Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds are on this shore. The National Weather Service has issued a storm surge watch for many North Carolina inlets and rivers.
Our Reader’s Queries
What part of North Carolina will be affected by Idalia?
Tropical Storm Idalia made its way through North Carolina, bringing heavy rainfall from the coast to the Triangle. Despite the late hour, the storm caused significant impact, with its center currently situated near Cape Lookout and affecting the Outer Banks.
Will South Carolina be affected by Idalia?
As it made its way up the East Coast, the storm finally reached South Carolina in the form of Tropical Storm Idalia. The heavy rainfall that accompanied it caused localized flooding in certain areas, putting the Lowcountry on high alert as they prepared for the storm’s arrival.
Did South Carolina get hit by Hurricane Idalia?
Idalia wreaked havoc on South Carolina’s coastal counties, causing flooded streets, fallen trees, and power outages. The tropical storm’s onshore winds, reaching up to 40 mph, brought in water from the Atlantic, affecting areas from Charleston to Myrtle Beach. The aftermath of the storm left residents struggling to cope with the damage caused by the relentless weather conditions.
Where did Hurricane Idalia hit North Carolina?
The powerful hurricane Idalia hit Keaton Beach, unleashing sustained winds of 125 mph (200 km/h) that caused extensive destruction in the region. The water levels near Cedar Key surged to a record-breaking 6.8 ft (2.1 m), while the storm surge water level reached a staggering 8.9 feet (2.7 m). The impact of the storm was severe, leaving behind a trail of devastation in its wake.