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, 4:37 PM EDT

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, 1:10 PM EDT

Dozens evacuated from flooded homes in Pasco County

In Pasco County, Florida, just north of Tampa, authorities helped evacuate more than 60 people from flooded homes, according to the sheriff's office.

The county is facing flooded roads, downed trees and downed power lines in the aftermath of Idalia, the sheriff's office said.

Aug 30, 2023, 12:33 PM EDT

American Airlines suspends operations in hurricane's path

American Airlines said it's suspended operations in Tampa, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Gainesville and Savannah as Hurricane Idalia tears through.

Tampa International Airport, which closed ahead of the storm, will reopen at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

-ABC News' Clara McMichael

Aug 30, 2023, 11:49 AM EDT

Latest forecast

The core of Idalia is now in Georgia.

NOAA satellite image showing Hurrican Idalia over Georgia.
NOAA

A flash flood emergency has been issued for Valdosta, Georgia, where more than 6 inches of rain fell this morning.

The latest path takes Idalia through Georgia and into the Carolinas through Wednesday evening.

The heaviest rain over the next 12 to 24 hours will be in the Carolinas, where some areas could see close to 10 inches of rain.

Five feet of storm surge is expected in Savannah and Charleston.

By 7 a.m. Thursday, the heavy rain will be hitting North Carolina's Outer Banks, and by late Thursday morning Idalia will move off the coast.

Aug 30, 2023, 11:35 AM EDT

Cedar Key resident: 'Entire downtown commercial district is underwater'

Cedar Key, Florida, resident Michael Bobbit rode out the storm at home, and he told ABC News Live his house "dodged a bullet" and avoided flooding.

"I put my heart and soul into this house, and it seemed like it was about to float off into the Gulf of Mexico," he said. "I'm a native Floridian, so hurricanes inherently aren't a big deal to me, but this one … I was scared."

While Bobbit's home was spared, Cedar Key's "entire downtown commercial district is underwater," he said. "We have no commercial buildings that aren't entirely inundated."

"I'd say 50% of the houses on the island have water in them," said Bobbit, who was walking in waist-deep water during the interview. "We're completely cut off from the mainland -- our bridges are inundated."

Bobbit said he and some other residents who stayed behind in Cedar Key are now "making sure everybody has what they need -- and we think we're in good."

"We're already cleaning up the streets," he said. "We live in community with one another -- we really take that seriously here and I'm really proud of our little town."

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