Idalia lashes Carolinas as Florida's Gulf Coast begins recovery
By Marco Bello, Maria Alejandra Cardona and Steve Gorman
PERRY, Florida (Reuters) -Tropical Storm Idalia on Thursday was drenching the Carolinas with heavy downpours that threatened to cause dangerous flooding while Florida's Gulf Coast began recovery efforts after the system tore through the area as a Category 3 hurricane.
The back end of the storm, which was headed northeast towards the sea, was producing torrential rains that could amount to 9 inches (23 cm) in some spots along the regions coastline early on Thursday, the National Weather Service said.
The service warned the rain could produce life-threatening flash flooding, especially in low lying areas and along rivers, through the morning and into the afternoon. Storm surge warnings were also in effect for several ocean front communities as heavy rains and fierce winds remained in the forecast.
«Driving conditions may become dangerous,» the service said in an advisory, urging residents to remain vigilant after many motorists became stranded on Wednesday. «Extreme rainfall rates could result in urban and flash flooding which may prompt water rescues.»
As of Thursday morning, the storm was about 45 miles (72 km) southwest of Wilmington, North Carolina, carrying winds of 60 mph as it drifted northeast. Idalia was expected to curl eastward off North Carolina and out into the Atlantic on Thursday night, the NHC said.
The rough conditions in the Carolinas come a day after Idalia crashed ashore at Keaton Beach in Florida's Big Bend region, lashing the coast with sustained winds of up to 125 miles per hour (201 kph), accompanied by torrential rains and pounding surf.
Local, state and federal authorities will assess the full extent of damage across the region in the days
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