Hurricane Idalia to dump lots of rain in North Carolina: Timeline of storm’s impact in Triangle

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Tuesday morning, Idalia strengthened into a category 1 hurricane. Idalia is forecast to rapidly intensify over the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

It’s forecast to be a category 3 (major hurricane) just before landfall near Cedar Key, Florida, on Wednesday morning. The storm is currently moving at 14 miles per hour and will speed up as it arrives on land.

Idalia will lift northeast across Savannah, Georgia, later Wednesday to a position along the Carolina coast Thursday.

This path will spare the Triangle the worst of this storm with the northwest flank producing rains of 1-3 inches along with gusty winds.

This rainfall from Idalia will renew flooding conditions, as they come after a few days of rain in the region. Wilds from Idalia may also be strong enough to cause some damage and trigger scattered power outages.

Expected impacts for Central NC (Wednesday night through Thursday afternoon)

Rain and wind from Idailia will likely arrive in central North Carolina late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

• Heavy rain (2-6″)
• Gusty wind of 35-55+mph possible
• Power outages
• There is an isolated tornado risk south in Sampson and Cumberland Counties

It will be much worse toward the coast where sustained tropical storm force winds and gusts, to near hurricane force, will result in extensive wind damage. Coastal rainfall of 4-8 inches will trigger flooding and result in road closures.

Beach conditions will deteriorate as rip currents and high surf develop from both Idalia and Hurricane Franklin which is out in the Atlantic about halfway between North Carolina and Bermuda.

Rough surf and dangerous rip currents will continue through Thursday.

Idalia’s effects on the Triangle are expected to wind down Thursday night, although conditions will not improve along the coast until Friday.