Tonight’s supermoon could worsen flooding from Idalia

No reports of flood-related deaths or missing people

Officials sounded optimistic this evening, saying mass evacuations appear to have mitigated large loss of life.

With initial search and rescues 75% completed, officials have yet to find anyone who died of flooding-related deaths, according to Kevin Guthrie, executive director of Florida’s emergency management. He also noted there have been no missing person reports from local law enforcement agencies throughout the state.

Gov. DeSantis also noted that the tone of emergency calls made during Idalia were dramatically different compared to calls last year during Ian, when the state saw many deaths.

“I remember when that storm was hitting … panicked phone calls of people calling whose homes were filling up with water was something that was very, very ominous,” DeSantis said.

Officials are working on a major disaster declaration to be submitted to FEMA tonight, the governor said.

Approximately 250,000 power outages were reported by 6 p.m. ET, but more than 315,000 had their electricity restored today. All state bridges, including the Cedar Key Bridge, have been inspected and cleared by the Florida Department of Transportation.

Of the 10 evacuated hospitals, nine are expected to be fully operational following a state assessment to clear patients’ return, DeSantis said.

Prison in Florida county where Idalia made landfall was not evacuated

The Taylor Correctional Institution, which was in Idalia’s path and is about 5 miles off the Gulf Coast, remained open ahead of the storm’s landfall this morning.

“At Taylor CI, inmates are housed in hardened dorms built to withstand high winds. This was done to ensure the highest level of safety and security for those under our care and custody,” the Florida Department of Corrections said.

The facility’s structure was not damaged, and all inmates are safe and secure, the department said.

“There was no need to evacuate,” the statement said.

The prison’s capacity is listed at 1,282 inmates, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.

The prison is in one of the hardest-hit areas of the state. Videos and photos showed a gas station awning toppled by winds as well as buildings and homes with the roofs ripped off.

More than 4,000 inmates were relocated ahead of Idalia, including some further inland than the Taylor Correctional Institution.

Tides are rising in Charleston as Idalia heads that way

More than 450,000 customers without power in Florida and Georgia

Almost half a million homes and businesses across storm-battered Florida and Georgia are without power this evening, according to tracking website poweroutage.us.

Florida has around 225,000 customers out, and in Georgia it’s more than 232,000, according to the website. A utility customer is a home or business, and not the number of people affected by an outage.

Georgia Power said crews from Mississippi came to assist in advance of the hurricane.

In Florida, crews traveled to the northeastern part of the state to help, utility Florida Light and Power said.

A look at Shore Acres, Fla., flooding

Tornado reported to flip car in South Carolina

What was reported to be a tornado flipped a car in Goose Creek, north of Charleston, according to the National Weather Service.

Police said that two people were inside and suffered minor injuries, NBC affiliate WCBD of Charleston reported. Emergency management officials in Berkeley County reported the incident to the weather service.

Goose Creek is around 15 miles north and slightly to the west of Charleston.

U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., warned that tornadoes had touched down in the Lowcountry and urged people to pay attention to weather alerts.

Tonight’s supermoon could worsen flooding from Idalia

A rare “blue supermoon” rises tonight — a treat for skywatchers but a celestial occurrence that could actually exacerbate the risk of flooding from Idalia.

Beyond making for a pretty spectacle in the night sky, the moon’s gravitational pull on Earth has a profound influence on the planet’s tides. High tides during full moons and new moons can cause “major problems on some coasts, especially if weather adds high waves or a storm surge (due to low atmospheric pressure over the involved area),” according to NASA.

Idalia is moving over southeastern Georgia, about 40 miles west of Savannah. Tonight’s supermoon could make tides even higher than normal, worsening tidal flooding in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.

The second full moon of the month is known as a “blue moon,” and because the moon is closer to Earth than normal, it’s dubbed a “supermoon” because it tends to appear bigger and brighter in the night sky.

Photos: Receding storm waters surround homes in Keaton Beach, Fla.

A view of damaged homes in Keaton Beach, Fla., following the passage of Hurricane Idalia today. The images were captured during a flight provided by mediccorps.org.

Idalia downgraded to a tropical storm

Idalia has slowed down significantly since making landfall this morning and has been downgraded to a tropical storm, with sustained wind speeds lower than 70 mph.

The storm system was 40 miles west of Savannah, Georgia, at 5 p.m. ET, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Storm surge warnings and watches have been discontinued for Florida.

The hurricane watches for Georgia and South Carolina have been changed to tropical storm warnings.

This is one of the many reasons not to go out in floodwaters

Idalia should be a ‘wake-up call’ for Tampa, scientist says

Tampa avoided a direct hit from Idalia, but the impacts from the hurricane’s wind and rain show how vulnerable the entire region is to major storms, according to Jeff Masters, a former hurricane scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Preliminary estimates suggest much of the area around Tampa experienced 3 to 4 feet of surge, with the National Hurricane Center forecasting that some areas could see up to 5 feet of storm surge.

Those figures would be among the highest storm surges on record for Tampa Bay going back to 1940, said Masters, who now works as a meteorologist for Yale Climate Connections.

“That’s a big deal, and there’s going to be considerable damage in that heavily populated area,” he said. “They’re seeing just what storm surge can do even though it missed by more than 100 miles. That should definitely be a wake-up call for Tampa Bay.”

Some Florida Gulf Coast residents who chose to ride out Hurricane Idalia at home were forced to “swim out of their windows” to escape waves of water crashing through their front doors early this morning.

In Crystal River, the powerful Category 3 hurricane left a trail of destruction behind, including toppled trees and homes and buildings almost completely underwater.

Brenda and Phil Henley, who live in Crystal River and chose not to evacuate, told MSNBC’s José Díaz-Balart that some people had to swim to safety. 

Aug. 30, 202302:49

“Swimming out of their windows, literally, from their homes,” Phil Henley said, adding that the water moved in fast. 

Citrus County, where Crystal River is located, was under a mandatory evacuation order for all low-lying areas west of U.S. Highway 19. The Henleys chose to ride out the storm at home but left once the water started coming. 

“I said we got to get out of here because we’re fixing to get flooded out,” he said. 

Read the full story here.

Idalia charges across Georgia

Map: rainfall totals across Florida

CHARLESTON, S.C. — The governor of South Carolina said Wednesday that while Idalia may not be as destructive as some previous storms, it will still wreak havoc on parts of the state.

“It’s going to cause high winds,” Gov. Henry McMaster said at a news conference. “There will be a lot of water, particularly of course in the low country.”

McMaster, a Republican, said that he would not be ordering any evacuations or closing of state agencies.

Still, officials said people should prepare for dangerous flooding, flash floods, downed trees and power outages.

“A reminder: This is not just a coastal event,” Kim Stenson, the director of South Carolina’s emergency management division, said at the news conference. “Much of South Carolina is going to be affected by the impacts of this hurricane over the next 24 to 48 hours.”

Officials said that there were multiple shelters open throughout the state including one in Charleston County, two in Williamsburg County and one in Jasper County, with more potentially opening over the next 24 hours.

Aug. 30, 202302:49

Flooding from Steinhatchee River

How Hurricane Idalia went from a Category 1 to a Category 4 overnight

Warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico helped fuel Hurricane Idalia’s rapid intensification hours before it made landfall, a phenomenon that experts say will likely occur more often in a warming world.

As Idalia moved through the Gulf on Tuesday, its winds rose by 55 mph in just 24 hours, strengthening from a Category 1 hurricane to a Category 4 by early Wednesday. It weakened slightly to a Category 3 hurricane before making landfall a few hours later in Florida’s Big Bend, near Keaton Beach.

But Idalia’s intensification as it approached the Florida coast is “to be expected with hotter ocean temperatures,” said Jeff Masters, a former hurricane scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who now works as a meteorologist for Yale Climate Connections.

The world’s oceans in recent months have shattered temperature records, with multiple bodies of water — including the North Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Basin — engulfed in severe marine heat waves.

In a White House briefing Wednesday, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said hurricanes in recent years have intensified rapidly because of elevated ocean temperatures.

These events have added to the challenges faced by local officials in the days and hours before storms hit.

“These storms are intensifying so fast that our local emergency management officials have less time to warn and evacuate and get people to safety,” Criswell said.

Read the full story here.

Biden receiving updates on Idalia; FEMA administrator to head to Florida

Kelly O’Donnell

The White House said President Joe Biden is receiving updates on the hurricane’s path, along with regular briefings from his team.

Biden had directed the federal government to pre-position people and resources ahead of Idalia’s landfall in an effort to support recovery efforts in Florida and the surrounding states, including more than 1.3 million meals and 1.6 million liters of water, the White House said.

Aug. 30, 202305:28

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said Biden had directed her to go to Florida and join Gov. Ron DeSantis in assessing recovery needs.

Idalia’s winds subside as storm brings heavy rain to Georgia and the Carolinas

After whipping through Florida, Idalia now has maximum sustained winds near 80 mph, the National Hurricane Center said in a 1 p.m. ET update. While still fierce, it’s weaker than the 125 mph maximum sustained winds recorded during landfall.

Idalia quickly moved over Florida and is now 40 miles northeast of Valdosta, Georgia, bringing heavy rains to southern Georgia and parts of the Carolinas, the weather service said.

It’s moving north-northeast at 20 mph. A weather station near Jekyll Island in Georgia reported sustained winds of 43 mph, the agency said.

Aug. 30, 202302:14

Tree falls on Florida Governor’s Mansion; no injuries

A massive tree fell at the Florida Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee, according to Florida’s first lady.

Casey DeSantis posted a photo on X, the website formerly known as Twitter, showing an oak tree that apparently cracked and then toppled over near the mansion.

DeSantis said her children — Mason, Madison and Mamie — were at the mansion when the tree fell, but there were no injuries.

Tallahassee was spared the worst effects of Hurricane Idalia, but wind gusts did tear down several trees. The hurricane’s impacts knocked out power to tens of thousands in the city.

Florida’s Apalachee Bay hit by major hurricane for first time in recorded history

Florida is no stranger to ferocious storms, but the state’s Apalachee Bay — an estuary 25 miles south of Tallahassee — usually dodges the most fearsome weather conditions.

Hurricane Idalia had other plans.

Idalia, which made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 storm on Wednesday, became the first major hurricane to enter Apalachee Bay since modern record-keeping started in 1851, according to the National Weather Service office in Tallahassee, the state capital.

Read the full story here.

Tallahassee spared worst of Idalia

Hurricane Idalia grazed Tallahassee, but the city avoided much of the storm’s punch.

“We were fortunately spared from the worst,” said Israel Gonzalez, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Tallahassee. 

Gonzalez said winds gusted above 50 mph at times this morning, but the storm tracked far enough east to avoid the most dangerous impacts for the city of about 200,000, which is Florida’s capital.

“Most impacts we’ve heard have been in the form of power outages, but nothing too much more than that at the time,” Gonzalez said. “That could change as the dust settles.”

Nearly 30,000 people were without power in Tallahassee as of 12:30 p.m. ET, according to a city utility outage map.

Leon County, which contains Tallahassee, reported a handful of downed trees, blocked roads and damaged structures in a Wednesday morning update. There were about 500 people using county shelters, according to a county update. 

A slight deviation in the storm track could have spelled catastrophe for Tallahassee. 

“If the track was more westward, it’s likely Tallahassee would have experienced more impacts. Fortunately, we stayed more on the north side of Idalia’s circulation,” Gonzalez said.

Aug. 30, 202301:05

Charleston County tells residents to stay indoors for next 24 hours

CHARLESTON, S.C. — The emergency management director of Charleston County in South Carolina said Wednesday afternoon that his message ahead of Idalia’s arrival here tonight was “to stay indoors and not go out for like the next pretty much 24 hours.”

“We’re about to start receiving tropical storm force winds within the county,” Joe Coates, the Charleston County emergency management director, told NBC News early Wednesday afternoon.

Coates said that storm surge from Idalia and the King Tides, which bring especially high tides, mean the tide is forecast to hit 8.3 feet later tonight when Idalia is expected to arrive, around 8 p.m.

First responders cut path through devastation in Perry

Gabe Gutierrez

PERRY, Fla. — First responders and some residents are working to cut a path through downed tress and power lines as storm response continued this morning.

Beach Road — a main road into the city that sits southeast of Tallahassee — was impassable. Significant tree damage was apparent, and a gas station awning had fully collapsed.

Aug. 30, 202301:16

Tampa International Airport to reopen for arriving flights only

Tampa International Airport will reopen for arriving flights around 4 p.m. ET, the airport said in a social media post.

The airport sustained “minimal damage” from Hurricane Idalia, airport officials said.

“Departing flights and normal operations will resume early Thursday morning,” the tweet said.

Gainesville Regional Airport will reopen tonight, and Tallahassee International Airport will reopen first thing tomorrow morning, Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a hurricane briefing Wednesday afternoon.

Videos and photos show Idalia’s wrath in Florida

Tampa police shared an early morning video showing waves from the coast crashing over a railing and flooding the waterfront road of Bayshore Boulevard as winds whipped palm trees and traffic lights around 2:45 a.m. ET.

Reporter Beth Rousseau of NBC’s Tampa affiliate WFLA shared video showing Pasco County neighborhoods submerged in water. 

In the city of Perry, the hurricane’s western eyewall brought strong winds and heavy rains about an hour after it made landfall, according to a video posted on X.

See more storm footage here. 

Second death from weather-related crash in Florida

A 59-year-old man from Gainesville died Wednesday after getting into a rain-related crash in Alachua County, the Florida Highway Patrol said. 

The man was driving a Toyota Tacoma and traveling westbound on Florida State Road 20 in “extremely rainy conditions,” the agency said. The vehicle veered out of its lane and into a ditch on the north side of the road and ultimately crashed into the nearby tree line, officials said.

“The Alachua County Fire Rescue arrived on the scene and declared the driver of the Toyota deceased,” the Florida Highway Patrol said in a press release.

That brings the known Idalia death toll in Florida to two.

DeSantis said in a briefing Wednesday afternoon that there have been no confirmed storm-related fatalities, and the two weather-related traffic deaths must be reviewed.

“There’s a process for confirmed fatalities. It just goes through law enforcement and medical examiners. That has not been done yet where we have a confirmation. I know there are unconfirmed reports. Those may end up becoming confirmed,” he said. 

Roads flooded in Tampa

Hurricane Franklin creating life-threatening surf along the Eastern Seaboard

As Idalia hammers Florida and heads northeast, another storm — Hurricane Franklin — is churning in the western Atlantic. 

Franklin, the second hurricane of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, is creating “potentially deadly surf and rip currents along the U.S. East Coast,” the National Weather Service said today, warning of dangerous beach conditions. 

As of 11 a.m., Franklin’s outer bands were passing near Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, moving northeast at 13 mph. 

Franklin isn’t forecast to make landfall; instead, it’s anticipated to swirl northeast toward the open water east of Canada. 

Idalia weakens to Category 1

Idalia is now a Category 1 hurricane, the National Weather Service in Tallahassee said in an 11 a.m. update. 

“Damaging wind gusts continue around the storm and heavy rains around the center are leading to several water rescues in south-central Georgia. Additionally, storm surge concerns remain across the Big Bend,” it said. 

Pinellas County ‘spared’ by Idalia, but flooding forecast to worsen

Pinellas County, Florida, which includes the popular beach cities of St. Petersburg and Clearwater, was “spared” from a direct hit by Idalia, but officials warned that overnight flooding and storm surge will worsen this afternoon. 

“We’re going to see the greatest impact with storm surge about two hours after it made landfall and the problem there is that it coincides with a high tide,” Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said in a morning briefing. “So we’re gonna see some peak water especially in the Clearwater Beach area, the Gulf beaches and then moving south.”

He noted the county has already seen several rescues.

“High tides around the county will be starting at around 11:15 a.m. to about 4 p.m.,” county Emergency Management Director Cathie Perkins said.

Idalia’s damaging winds move into Georgia

Damaging winds from Hurricane Idalia are now spreading into southern Georgia, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The storm has maximum sustained winds near 105 mph, with higher gusts, based on radar data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

At the moment, Idalia is located around 25 miles south of Valdosta, Georgia. An airport in that city reported sustained winds of 39 mph, with gusts of 63 mph, according to the hurricane center.

Driver dead in weather-related car crash, Florida Highway Patrol says

A 40-year-old man has died in a weather-related accident in Pasco County early this morning, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The driver, who has not been identified, was in a Ford Ranger traveling eastbound on Saint Joe Road in “inclement weather” and driving “too fast for conditions,” around 6:15 a.m., Sgt. Steve Gaskins said. 

The driver lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the roadway and collided with a tree. The individual suffered “fatal injuries” at the scene, he said.

Idalia becomes eighth major hurricane to hit U.S. since 2017

Kathryn Prociv

When Idalia made landfall this morning as a 125 mph Category 3 hurricane, it became the eighth major hurricane (defined as Category 3 or above) to make landfall on the United States since 2017.

1. Idalia, 2023
2. Ian, 2022
3. Ida, 2021
4. Laura, 2020
5. Zeta, 2020
6. Michael, 2018
7. Irma, 2017
8. Harvey, 2017

These past six years have seen an extraordinary stretch of damaging hurricanes striking the country.

When examining the six-year period prior to 2017, there were no major hurricane landfalls on the mainland U.S. More astonishing, still, prior to 2017, the last major hurricane landfall was 12 years earlier, when Hurricane Wilma slammed into Florida.

When Category 1 and 2 hurricanes are included, total landfalls since 2017 skyrocket to 19 in six years, including Idalia. That’s an average of three hurricane landfalls per year.

Prior to 2010, the U.S. averaged just one to two hurricane landfalls each year, and major hurricane landfalls were even more rare.

Water levels at Steinhatchee River surged from 1 to 8 feet in just an hour

Water levels in the Steinhatchee River in Big Bend Florida ballooned rapidly this morning as storm surge moved in from Idalia — surging from 1 foot to 8 feet in just an hour, the National Weather Service in Tallahassee said. 

As of 8:30 a.m., that meant the river was 2 feet above major flood stage, which is at 6 feet. 

Flooding and fierce winds batter Sarasota

Overnight video footage showed a downtown Sarasota neighborhood inundated and slammed by winds that shook trees and street signs around 1 a.m. ET, ahead of Idalia’s landfall. 

Streets turning into rivers is just a glimpse of the damage Florida’s Gulf Coast cities are facing today.

Some flee the rising waters with what they can carry

Charleston could see its 11th-highest tide

Charleston, South Carolina, could record its 11th-highest tide as Hurricane Idalia spirals northeast.

Last evening, a tide of 7.7 feet was recorded at Charleston Harbor, hitting moderate flood stage. The tide is forecast to hit 8.5 feet by tonight, according to the National Weather Service Office in Charleston. 

The highest crest on record in Charleston was at 12.52 feet in September 1989. If the high tide does hit 8.5 feet, it’ll fall under the 10th-highest crest on record, which was 8.51 feet Nov. 7, 2021. 

Idalia is forecast to be at hurricane strength when it reaches southeast Georgia later this afternoon, then become a tropical storm as it tracks along the South Carolina coast, the weather service said. 

More than 215,000 customers without power

More than 215,000 utility customers in Florida are experiencing power outages this morning, according to Poweroutage.us.

Florida’s Big Bend, where Idalia made landfall, was hit the hardest.

In Leon County, more than 35,000 customers were without power as of around 9 a.m. ET., while more than 18,700 were experiencing outages in Suwannee County.

In Tampa, rising waters but also a paddleboarder

TAMPA, Fla. — The rising waters of Tampa Bay can be seen by how they climb up the tires of an abandoned white SUV on Bayshore Boulevard, one of the main thoroughfares of the city that sits just off the water.

Just last night, people drove down Bayshore. This morning, with Idalia making landfall, it’s now underwater. And more storm surge is expected throughout the day.

Authorities have pleaded with people to take shelter or move inland, but some are still around — some walking to observe the damage and at least one paddleboarding in the bay.

At Tampa General Hospital this morning, one employee said it’s rare to see the the bay breach the sea wall outside the hospital. And things are expected to get worse before they get better.

Aug. 30, 202304:08

Florida airports shutter as Idalia pummels state

A slew of Florida airports have shuttered their doors because of Hurricane Idalia.

Gainesville Regional Airport announced early this morning it will shutter until 5 p.m. ET, saying: “No flights are operating until this evening … The airport is not available as a shelter. Stay safe!”

Tampa International Airport had closed yesterday ahead of the hurricane. St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport also shut down yesterday afternoon with plans to reopen today at 3 p.m. Jacksonville International Airport remains open but warned that cancellations are expected throughout the day. 

Sarasota Bradenton International Airport closed overnight but was open and operational this morning. Tallahassee International Airport, which also closed its doors last night, anticipated to resume operations tomorrow morning. 

NOAA says some water levels 6 feet above normal high tide

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said that water levels were continuing to rise as Idalia made landfall, with one tide station already showing water 6 feet above normal high tide.

Map: Track river flooding across Florida

Strongest storm to hit Big Bend since the 19th century

Idalia is the strongest hurricane to make landfall on the Big Bend region in 127 years. It tied the unnamed hurricane of 1896 with 125 mph winds.

More than 160,000 utility customers without power

More than 160,000 customers were without power as Idalia made landfall in Florida, according to poweroutage.us.

More than 17,000 customers were out of power in Leon County, while in Wakulla County, more than 11,400 customers were without power around 8 a.m. ET, the website said.

One person rescued from floodwaters in St. Petersburg

At least one person was rescued early today from Twin City Mobile Home Park, St. Petersburg police said. 

Officials shared jarring video footage showing mobile homes and cars submerged in several feet of storm surge, while urging locals to stay out of flooded areas.

Another video captured early today ahead of Idalia’s landfall showed the parking lot of Derby Lane, the city’s greyhound racing track, inundated.

Downgrade does not diminish danger Idalia presents

Idalia’s downgrade to a Category 3 hurricane does not diminish the dangers the storm presents.

“Devastating damage will occur,” according to the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale, which gives storms a 1 to 5 rating based only on its maximum sustained wind speed and estimated potential property damage.

With wind speeds between 111-129 mph, a Category 3 hurricane will inflict “major damage” on “well-built framed homes,” according to the scale, which does not take into account other potential hazards such as storm surge, rainfall flooding and tornadoes.

“Many trees will be snapped or uprooted, blocking numerous roads,” according to the scale, which adds that “electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks after the storm passes.”

Idalia makes landfall as a Category 3 hurricane

Idalia made landfall along the coast of Florida’s Big Bend near Keaton Beach around 7:45 a.m. ET, the National Hurricane Center said.

It had maximum sustained winds estimated to be around 125 mph, with its present track set moving north northeast at 18 mph, the agency said.

The storm is causing catastrophic storm surge and damaging winds, the hurricane center said.

Max Butterworth

Reporters could be seen wading through floodwaters in downtown Tarpon Springs in the early hours of today.

Idalia will be biggest storm to hit Tallahassee in city’s history, mayor says

Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey warned that Idalia would be the biggest storm to hit the city in the history of the Floridian capital.

“The wind and the trees and the powerlines,” topped the list of concerns for the city, he told NBC’s Willie Geist, adding that workers had been preparing for the storm for a week.

“Stay home and stay in place,” Dailey warned residents.

Aug. 30, 202303:07

Northern eyewall of Idalia now onshore

Bill Karins

The northern eyewall of Idalia is now onshore.

The center of the hurricane is expected to cross the coast and make landfall around 8 a.m. ET.

Tornadoes could hit Sarasota, Tampa, Jacksonville, meteorologist says

Idalia could spawn tornadoes as far south as Tampa and Sarasota, east to Jacksonville and north to the Georgia coast later today, NBC News Meteorologist Bill Karins warned.

Hurricane downgraded to Category 3

Hurricane Idalia has been downgraded to a Category 3 storm, with maximum sustained winds near 125 mph, with higher gusts.

The system is still expected to hit Florida’s Big Bend as a major hurricane.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said the hurricane was expected to make landfall around 8 a.m. ET.

More than a thousand flights canceled or delayed

Air travel has been severely disrupted, with more than a thousand flights to and out of the United States already canceled or delayed, according to FlightAware.

In total, 790 flights to or out of the U.S. have been canceled and 523 have been delayed, with Tampa International Airport the worst affected, the tracking site said on its website.

Not all heeded warnings to evacuate affected areas, governor says

Gov. Ron DeSantis noted that not all residents in counties under evacuation orders have heeded calls to leave the areas in Idalia’s path.

“Most people did heed the warning,” he said, but he said not all followed evacuation orders.

The governor said rescue efforts and work to restore power would be underway in the storm’s wake.

‘Not my concern’ that Trump hasn’t commented on storm: DeSantis

Gov. Ron DeSantis said it was “not my concern” that former President Donald Trump, his rival for the GOP presidential nomination, had not commented on the storm as it threatened Florida, the former president’s home.

“My concern is protecting the people of Florida,” he said in the morning news conference.

If you’re in the storm’s path, time to ‘hunker down,’ DeSantis says

Counties in the storm’s path must “hunker down,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said.

“If you’re in the path of where the eyewall’s going at this point, you’ve gotta hunker down,” he said in this morning’s news conference.

Leon County Commissioner Christian Caban also urged residents impacted by the storm to “shelter in place.”

Video of overnight storm surge in Cedar Key

Lights briefly go out during DeSantis’ news conference

Gabe Gutierrez

PERRY, Florida — The lights briefly went out during Gov. Ron DeSantis’ news conference this morning.

They appeared to go out for a moment, before flickering back on.

“And there we go with our power here,” DeSantis said, before noting: “We’re back.”

Hurricane could make landfall in next hour and a half, DeSantis says

Hurricane Idalia could make landfall as early as in the next hour and a half, Gov. Ron DeSantis said.

The storm would probably hit by 8 a.m., he said, and warned residents not to do anything “dumb” at this point.

“If you’re inside, just hunker down until it gets past ya,” he said, warning that the expected storm surge associated with the hurricane would be “very dangerous.”

Do not drive through flooded streets, assume all downed power lines are ‘hot and live,’ DeSantis warns

Gov. Ron DeSantis has warned Florida residents not to drive through flooded streets and to assume that all downed power lines are still “hot and live.”

Speaking at a news conference at 6:30 a.m. ET, he said people should stay alert for hazards in the “immediate aftermath of the storm.”

Already, around 54,000 utility customers were without power, he said. He said efforts to restore power would be underway.

Hurricane Idalia barrels closer toward Florida’s Big Bend

Hurricane Idalia continues to barrel toward Florida’s Big Bend, with the system about 55 miles west northwest of Cedar Key as of 6 a.m. ET.

The hurricane continued to have maximum sustained winds of about 130 mph, with higher gusts, the National Hurricane Center said in an update.

Flooding in Pinellas County as Idalia nears

First responders in Pinellas County have warned any residents in the area to stay sheltered and stay off the roads as images show cars flooded on the streets.

Vehicles could be seen partially submerged on a flooded street in photos from the city of St. Petersburg early this morning.

Pinellas County’s Department of Emergency Management said flooding was being reported on roadways throughout coastal areas of the county as winds continued to gust from 40-60 mph.

“Some traffic signals have been reported to be out. All residents are advised to stay off the roads and remain sheltered,” it said.

Evacuation orders were issued in Pinellas County ahead of Idalia’s arrival.

‘Destructive life-threatening winds’ expected onshore, along with strong winds inland

“Destructive life-threatening winds” are expected where the core of Idalia moves onshore in the Big Bend region this morning, the National Hurricane Center said.

“Strong winds will also spread inland across portions of northern Florida and southern Georgia near the track of the center of Idalia where Hurricane Warnings are in effect,” it said in its 5 a.m. ET update.

Catastrophic and life-threatening storm surge likely along Florida Gulf Coast

Catastrophic and life-threatening storm surge is likely along parts of the Florida Gulf Coast, the National Hurricane Center said early this morning as Idalia nears.

Catastrophic impacts from storm surge inundation of 12 to 16 feet above ground level and destructive waves were expected somewhere between the Wakulla/Jefferson County line and Yankeetown, it said in a 5 a.m. ET update.

Life-threatening storm surge inundation was also likely elsewhere along parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast, where a storm surge warning is in effect, it said. Residents have been warned to follow advice given by officials.

The small eye of Idalia that everyone wants to avoid

Bill Karins

DeSantis to hold news conference at 6:30 a.m. ET

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference on Idalia at 6:30 a.m. ET.

The governor will be joined by Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie, Florida Major General John D. Haass, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Doug Schofield and Leon County Commissioner Christian Caban, according to a news release.

On the ground in Perry, Florida, as Idalia nears

Gabe Gutierrez

PERRY, Florida — As Idalia approaches, winds are picking up here but we still have power.

Police say they won’t respond to calls once winds reach 45 mph.

Taylor County imposed a curfew overnight after closing its emergency shelters, busing residents to nearby Leon County. The Taylor County sheriff’s office is warning of “great potential for death and catastrophic devastation.”

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee says there have been no major hurricanes going back to 1851 that have tracked into Apalachee Bay. “This has the making of an unprecedented event for this part of the state.”

More than 50,000 utility customers without power in Florida

More than 50,000 utility customers were without power in Florida as of 5 a.m. ET as Idalia barreled toward the Big Bend region, according to the online outage tracker PowerOutage.us.

Further outages are expected as the Category 4 hurricane makes landfall.

Hurricane Idalia becomes Category 4 storm

Hurricane Idalia has strengthened into a Category 4 storm as it barrels toward Florida’s Gulf Coast.

The storm is expected to make landfall along the coast of Florida’s Big Bend region, where catastrophic storm surge and destructive winds are expected.

Around 5 a.m. ET, the hurricane was about 60 miles west of Cedar Key and about 90 miles south of Tallahassee, with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph.

Some Cedar Key residents plan to ride out hurricane, despite evacuation orders

Some Cedar Key residents have reportedly chosen to ride out the hurricane, despite evacuation orders issued ahead of Idalia’s arrival.

Almost 900 residents were under mandatory orders to evacuate the island city, but some told NBC South Florida they planned to ride out the hurricane.

“I have a house on a high elevation sitting on top of a hill and I have a second floor and I have a boat tied up and ready to go,” one resident, Michael Bobbitt, told the outlet. “When the streets become waterways, I’m going to get out and about to see who I can get to to help.”

Traci Argraves said she had friends that planned to stay, but said she didn’t want to take her chances and would be staying at a hotel in Gainesville.

“We do have friends here that are staying, we have neighbors that are staying, I would like to see them still here,” she said.

Florida’s Big Bend to see ‘catastrophic’ storm surge, destructive winds

Florida’s Big Bend will soon face “catastrophic storm surge and destructive winds” as Hurricane Idalia continues to “rapidly intensify,” forecasters warned.

Data from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft showed that Idalia is quickly strengthening, with maximum sustained winds increasing to 125 mph with higher gusts around 4 a.m. ET.

At that time, the hurricane was about 90 miles west southwest of Cedar Key in Levy County.

A mandatory evacuation order was issued for residents and visitors of coastal areas of Levy County, including Cedar Key.

Live camera captures storm surge before going offline

A public live camera streaming footage of a beach on Boca Ciega Bay in the city of Gulfport appeared to show the effects of storm surge, with waves rushing toward the shore, before the camera went offline.

Within the span of minutes, the scene appeared to become more chaotic, with water beginning to lash at the camera before it suddenly went offline around 4 a.m. ET.

Gulfport is in Pinellas County, which saw evacuation orders issued in advance of Idalia’s arrival.

What’s the difference between Category 3 and Category 4?

The National Hurricane Center considers any storm with sustained wind speeds of 111 mph or higher a “major storm.” But even without that qualifier, any hurricane can be deadly and destructive.

Hurricanes are categorized on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale, based on maximum sustained wind speed, which leads to different levels of damage.

Here’s how they break down:

• Category 1: Wind speeds of 74 to 95 mph producing some damage
• Category 2: Wind speeds of 96 to 110 mph producing extensive damage
• Category 3: Wind speeds of 111 to 129 mph producing devastating damage
• Category 4: Wind speeds of 130 to 156 mph producing catastrophic damage
• Category 5: Wind speeds of 157 mph or higher producing catastrophic damage

Idalia could cut across parts of Georgia and South Carolina as a hurricane

Dennis Romero

Idalia was expected to continue to gain strength early this morning and then weaken over land, but not enough that it will lose its hurricane status, forecasters said.

On its path toward the Atlantic, the storm was expected to cut across parts of Georgia and possibly South Carolina still at hurricane strength, according to the National Hurricane Center.

“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,” itr said in its latest public advisory this morning.

The weakest sustained windspeed for hurricane status is 74 mph; lower than that and Idalia would return to a tropical storm.

Forecasters say parts of Georgia and the Carolinas could see as much as 12 inches of rain from the storm, and the risk of tornadoes was likely to shift from Florida into those states during the day.

Idalia now a Category 3 hurricane

Hurricane Idalia has been upgraded to a Category 3 storm, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The storm, with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph, is classified as a major hurricane, with catastrophic storm surge and destructive winds expected in the Big Bend region.

The hurricane was about 100 miles southwest of Cedar Key and 175 miles south of Tallahassee, and it was moving at about 15 mph.

Idalia is expected to make landfall this morning as a Category 4 hurricane, according to the hurricane center.

Landfall is expected south of Perry along the coast of Florida’s Big Bend region, according to NBC News’ Weather and Climate Unit.

The Big Bend region could encounter a dangerous storm surge of 12 to 16 feet in parts of the area, according to the hurricane center.

Damaging storm surge could stretch up to 200 miles south into the Tampa area, according to the unit.

Water coming over the sea wall in Treasure Island

Flooding reported in St. Pete Beach

Idalia nearing Florida’s Big Bend

Dennis Romero

Idalia was nearing Florida’s Big Bend coast early this morning, with the storm estimated to be 160 miles south of Tallahassee at 1 a.m. ET.

The hurricane was moving north, almost parallel to the state’s west coast, at 16 mph, federal forecasters said.

The state capital is not right on the coast — about 25 miles could be shaved off that distance to measure Idalia’s path to the coastline.

The storm was also about 115 miles southwest of Cedar Key, in Levy County, where a mandatory evacuation order was issued yesterday.

The storm remained just below Category 3 strength, with sustained winds believed to be at 110 mph. Forecasters said it is likely to move up to Category 4 before it makes landfall sometime this morning.

In either category, Idalia jumps to “major hurricane” status and the destruction associated with categories 3 through 5.

Idalia expected to make landfall as Category 4

Dennis Romero

Idalia is expected to be a Category 4 hurricane by the time it makes landfall along Florida’s Big Bend region this morning, the National Hurricane Center said late last night.

A Category 4 storm brings with it the possibility of catastrophic damage, structural damage and uprooted trees and utility poles, the hurricane center says. It means some areas might not be habitable for weeks.

With sustained winds of 110 mph, the storm was 1 mph shy of Category 3 on its way to the more powerful Category 4 status, according to the agency.

Sustained winds of 111 mph would put it at Category 3. Sustained winds of 130 or greater would make it a Category 4 storm. Either would mean a shift from hurricane to major hurricane, a status given at Category 3 and higher.

The hurricane was about 125 miles west of Tampa and gaining strength, the hurricane center said. It was moving north at 18 mph and was expected to make landfall sometime in the morning.

Florida has agencies and fuel on standby to respond to post-storm needs

To prepare for Idalia, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis activated the National Guard, and President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration.

DeSantis said the state had resources ready to respond throughout Florida, addressing power needs and threats to residents.

He said Florida was ready with 1.1 million gallons of fuel and almost 30,000 workers who would help restore power. 

Florida’s Big Bend, the ‘Nature Coast,’ is in Idalia’s path

ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida’s Big Bend is one of the last truly natural places in the state. It’s not Disney World; it’s not South Beach. This is where people go to hunt alligators, fish for tarpon and search for scallops in the shallow waters. Now it’s in the bull’s-eye of a major hurricane.

The Big Bend is where the peninsula merges into the Panhandle, just southeast of the capital, Tallahassee, and well north of metropolitan Tampa. Idalia would be the first major storm to hit there since Hurricane Easy in 1950, according to the National Hurricane Center.

This is where people go to appreciate nature and be left alone.

“The counties of Florida’s Nature Coast believe that many people — our residents, and those who travel here from far away — think having a good time involves more than expensive restaurants, theme parks, and crowded beaches,” a website devoted to the region says.

Because of the unique shape of the Big Bend coastline, Idalia “is going to bring some pretty massive storm surge,” said Kristen Corbosiero, an atmospheric scientist at the State University of New York at Albany. “The water can get piled up in that bay. And then the winds of the storm come around, they go around counterclockwise, that’s going the same direction, the same shape of the bay, so that water can just get pushed in there.”

Hurricane Idalia tracker: Follow its path

Hurricane Idalia is headed for Florida’s Gulf Coast.

As of last night, Idalia was a Category 2 hurricane with wind speeds reaching 110 mph.

Forecasts show the storm strengthening to Category 4 before it makes landfall early today, with wind speeds capable of snapping trees, damaging houses and knocking out electricity. 

Follow the storm’s path here.