Carolinas Hunker Down as Tropical Storm Idalia Lashes Coast With Tornadoes, Rain, Flooding

Tropical Storm Idalia has moved into South Carolina, according to the 8 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center. It’s already wreaking havoc across the Carolina states.

Idalia, which had caused widespread flooding in places like Charleston, also resulted in a car getting flipped by a tornado and then another tornado touching down in North Carolina.

Idalia has slightly dropped in maximum sustained winds, now at 65 mph — down from the 70 mph at 5 p.m. The storm is moving northeast at 21 mph and has increased in pressure, which means a slightly lesser threat along the coast for catastrophic damage.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for Altamaha Sound, Georgia all the way north to the North Carolina/Virginia border, the NHC stated. This includes Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds.

There are threats of tornadoes throughout the night along the coasts of South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. 

Hurricane Idalia made landfall as a powerful category 3 storm Wednesday morning in Florida's Big Bend near Keaton Beach. The storm roared through Florida’s peninsula and worked its way through Georgia, quickly weakening and then downgrading to a tropical storm by 5 p.m.

By late afternoon, the storm had moved past Savannah and toward South Carolina. In Charleston, streets were flooded from heavy rains and the fact the city is already a low-lying area prone to flooding from rising sea levels. 

The North Charleston Police Department reported flooding on several roads before 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

A video shows a car in South Carolina getting tossed into the air, flipping and landing on another car.

There was also a confirmed tornado in Wilmington, North Carolina, according to WRAL.

The hurricane center stated the storm is expected to move at the same pace throughout the evening, and that tropical storm warnings are still in place across both Carolinas. A storm surge of up to 5 feet could also happen along the coasts of both states.

There are no confirmed deaths from the path and wrath of Idalia, according to officials. There are about 450,000 power outages in the coastal states affected by the storm.