Idalia developed near the Yucatan Channel on August 27th and meandered around for a couple of days before moving into the Gulf of Mexico on August 29th. Idalia rapidly intensified into a major hurricane before making landfall in the Florida Big Bend area as a category 3 hurricane with sustained winds near 125 mph. Idalia then continued northeast through the Southeast U.S., eventually moving off the coast of South Carolina on August 31st as a tropical storm. Idalia then turned east and passed just south of Eastern NC before eventually moving on towards Bermuda.
Across Eastern NC, the biggest impacts from Idalia came from water. Across the northern half of Eastern NC, 2-4" of rain was common, with 5-10" common across the southern half of Eastern NC, closer to Idalia's path. Where the heaviest rain fell, there were numerous roads closed due to flash flooding. The heavy rainfall also forced the closure of campgrounds in Dare County. In Onslow County, several roads were washed out, and led to the development of sinkholes.
In addition to the rainfall impacts, there were also some impacts due to storm surge. Water levels reached as high as 4 feet above ground level, especially in Carteret County, with impacts focused in Downeast, Great Neck Creek, and Back Creek.
Tropical storm force winds were primarily felt across the southern half of Eastern NC, where gusts peaked in the 40 to 60 mph range, with a few higher gusts. This caused some tree damage and power outages.
Rain Reports
Rainfall Totals
Precipitation Reports from Tropical Cyclone Idalia
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 936 AM EDT Fri Sep 1 2023 ...48 HOUR STORM TOTAL PRECIPITATION REPORTS... Location Amount Time/Date Provider ...North Carolina... ...Beaufort County... Washington 1.0 SSW 3.48 in 0800 AM 09/01 COCORAHS NC Fire RAWS No. 4 3.12 in 0846 AM 09/01 RAWS Pantego 0.4 WSW 3.01 in 0615 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Washington 1 E (COOP) 2.86 in 1158 PM 08/31 COOP Bunyan RAWS 2.78 in 0913 AM 09/01 RAWS Chocowinity 0.2 W 2.60 in 0800 AM 09/01 COCORAHS ...Carteret County... Beaufort 0.5 W 10.26 in 0800 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Beaufort 3.4 NNW 9.28 in 0800 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Cedar Island RAWS 8.73 in 0825 AM 09/01 RAWS Beaufort 1.5 NNW 7.91 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Beaufort 3.8 N 7.77 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Morehead City 0.1 E 7.65 in 0800 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Cape Carteret 1.5 NE 7.42 in 0649 AM 09/01 COOP Atlantic Beach 0.6 W 7.11 in 0730 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Morehead City 0.6 NW 7.08 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Cape Carteret 1.0 NNW 7.08 in 0530 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Williston 0.9 SW 6.69 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Beaufort (MRH ASOS) 6.63 in 0858 AM 09/01 ASOS Swansboro 3.7 NNE 6.28 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Morehead City 2.9 WNW 6.02 in 0704 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Bogue Field (NJM ASOS) 6.01 in 0857 AM 09/01 AWOS Cedar Point 0.9 WSW 5.70 in 0514 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Newport (WFO MHX) 5.51 in 1158 PM 08/31 COOP Croatan RAWS 5.44 in 0848 AM 09/01 RAWS Stella 2.5 SE 5.18 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Morehead City 5.1 WNW 5.09 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Newport 0.2 SW 5.01 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Pine Knoll Shores 1.4 E 4.96 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Newport 1.0 N 4.94 in 0600 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Emerald Isle 2.1 E 4.93 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Indian Beach 0.0 W 4.93 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Morehead City 6.0 WNW 4.61 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS ...Craven County... Havelock 1.9 SSE 5.03 in 0658 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Cherry Point (NKT ASOS) 4.63 in 0856 AM 09/01 AWOS Trent Woods 1.3 SSE 4.33 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Perrytown (COOP) 4.33 in 0730 AM 09/01 COOP James City 2.0 S 3.98 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS New Bern 3.8 S 3.98 in 0800 AM 09/01 COCORAHS New Bern 2.6 SW 3.88 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS New Bern 5.3 SW 3.67 in 0706 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Trent Woods 1.0 NNE 3.67 in 0640 AM 09/01 COCORAHS James City 2.5 S 3.61 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS New Bern 5.1 SSE 3.33 in 0800 AM 09/01 COCORAHS New Bern 5.0 SE 3.15 in 0800 AM 09/01 COCORAHS New Bern RAWS 3.06 in 0917 AM 09/01 RAWS New Bern 7.3 ESE 3.00 in 0630 AM 09/01 COCORAHS 1 WNW Coastal Carolina Regio 2.74 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS New Bern (EWN ASOS) 2.63 in 0854 AM 09/01 ASOS New Bern 1.3 NNE 2.31 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS ...Dare County... Hatteras 0.6 SW 7.23 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Buxton RAWS 6.98 in 0830 AM 09/01 RAWS Buxton 0.3 ENE 5.98 in 0815 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Frisco (HSE ASOS) 5.78 in 0851 AM 09/01 ASOS Rodanthe 1.0 SSE 5.22 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Dare Bombing Range 4.76 in 0854 AM 09/01 RAWS Dare Bomb Range RAWS 3.78 in 0848 AM 09/01 RAWS Kill Devil Hills 2.2 NNW 3.11 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Southern Shores 0.5 NNE 2.41 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS ...Duplin County... 1.5 SE Wallace 6.89 in 0600 AM 09/01 COOP Nc Fire Raws No. 3 6.61 in 0912 AM 09/01 RAWS Wallace 6.2 ENE 6.34 in 0632 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Albertson 1.2 WNW 6.14 in 0600 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Wallace 14.8 E 5.19 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Mount Olive 6.0 SE 4.68 in 0800 AM 09/01 COCORAHS ...Greene County... Snow Hill 3.1 NNE 2.88 in 0800 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Snow Hill 2.87 in 0700 AM 09/01 COOP Ayden 6.5 WNW 2.50 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS ...Hyde County... Engelhard 0.8 NW 6.64 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Swan Quarter Ferry Terminal 3.85 in 0800 AM 09/01 COOP Fairfield RAWS 3.36 in 0917 AM 09/01 RAWS ...Lenoir County... Pink Hill 2.5 NE 5.54 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Kinston 4.4 WNW 4.19 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Kinston 5.1 WNW 3.89 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Kinston 3 N 3.75 in 0800 AM 09/01 COOP ...Martin County... Jamesville 6.1 SW 2.58 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Williamston 8.9 SSE 2.55 in 0618 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Williamston 0.9 SSW 2.22 in 0800 AM 09/01 COCORAHS ...Onslow County... Jacksonville 1.0 NW 8.03 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Jacksonville (COOP) 7.13 in 0629 AM 09/01 COOP Hubert 4.9 SE 6.79 in 0711 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Swansboro 2.8 WSW 6.59 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Swansboro 3.3 NW 6.42 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Jacksonville 4.5 NW 6.14 in 0628 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Jacksonville (NCA ASOS) 5.93 in 0856 AM 09/01 AWOS Sneads Ferry 1.2 SSW 5.81 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Holly Ridge 9.0 ENE 5.70 in 0618 AM 09/01 COCORAHS 2 WNW New River Station 5.62 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Sandy Run RAWS 5.54 in 0919 AM 09/01 RAWS Hoffman RAWS 4.79 in 0910 AM 09/01 RAWS Richlands (OAJ AWOS) 4.13 in 0856 AM 09/01 AWOS ...Pamlico County... Lowland 0.2 SE 5.47 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Oriental 2.0 WSW 5.14 in 0900 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Merritt 1.5 WSW 5.02 in 0600 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Bayboro 3 SW 3.87 in 0700 AM 09/01 COOP ...Pitt County... Greenville 5.0 SE 3.00 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Winterville 3.5 W 2.82 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Winterville 1.0 ENE 2.81 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Winterville 2.6 ENE 2.81 in 0800 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Greenville 4.4 SSE 2.77 in 0800 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Greenville 4.7 WNW 2.46 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Greenville (COOP) 2.45 in 1158 PM 08/31 COOP Winterville 2.8 WNW 2.43 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Fountain 0.1 NE 2.24 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Greenville 1.4 SE 1.73 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS ...Tyrrell County... Gum Neck (COOP) 3.90 in 0630 AM 09/01 COOP Columbia 0.8 NNE 3.60 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS ...Washington County... Roper 2.4 NE 3.14 in 0700 AM 09/01 COCORAHS Pocosin Lakes RAWS 2.70 in 0917 AM 09/01 RAWS
Wind Reports
Wind Gusts
Wind Reports from Tropical Cyclone Idalia
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 256 PM EDT Thu Aug 31 2023 ...HIGHEST WIND REPORTS... Location Speed Time/Date Provider ...North Carolina... ...Beaufort County... Washington (OCW AWOS) 38 MPH 0545 AM 08/31 AWOS Bunyan RAWS 37 MPH 0713 AM 08/31 RAWS ...Carteret County... Beaufort (MRH ASOS) 62 MPH 0815 AM 08/31 ASOS Cape Lookout CMAN 61 MPH 0900 AM 08/31 NDBC Fort Macon (WxFlow) 61 MPH 0910 AM 08/31 WXFLOW Beaufort (Duke Marine Lab) 60 MPH 0918 AM 08/31 NOS-NWLON Beaufort 59 MPH 1050 AM 08/31 CWOP Croatan RAWS 53 MPH 0848 AM 08/31 RAWS North River (WxFlow) 52 MPH 0759 AM 08/31 WXFLOW Bogue Field (NJM ASOS) 51 MPH 0909 AM 08/31 AWOS Cedar Island RAWS 45 MPH 1025 AM 08/31 RAWS Atlantic Beach 0.4 E 44 MPH 0915 AM 08/31 CWOP Emerald Isle 3 WSW 35 MPH 0840 AM 08/31 CWOP Newport 10.3 ENE 32 MPH 0731 AM 08/31 CWOP Morehead City 4.7 W 31 MPH 0815 AM 08/31 CWOP ...Craven County... Cherry Point (NKT ASOS) 53 MPH 0644 AM 08/31 AWOS New Bern (EWN ASOS) 43 MPH 0812 AM 08/31 ASOS New Bern RAWS 34 MPH 0717 AM 08/31 RAWS Havelock 0.7 NW 33 MPH 1235 AM 08/31 CWOP JAMES CITY 33 MPH 0505 AM 08/31 CWOP ...Dare County... Avon (WxFlow) 66 MPH 1148 AM 08/31 WXFLOW Hatteras High (WxFlow) 62 MPH 1106 AM 08/31 WXFLOW Buxton (WxFlow) 58 MPH 0347 AM 08/31 WXFLOW Oregon Inlet CG (WxFlow) 58 MPH 0116 PM 08/31 WXFLOW Real Slick (WxFlow) 58 MPH 1022 AM 08/31 WXFLOW Frisco (HSE ASOS) 55 MPH 1110 AM 08/31 ASOS Oregon Inlet (WxFlow) 53 MPH 0820 AM 08/31 WXFLOW KHK Resort (WxFlow) 53 MPH 1023 AM 08/31 WXFLOW Nags Head 52 MPH 0543 AM 08/31 CWOP ECU Coastal Studies Institut 50 MPH 0540 AM 08/31 MESOWEST Oregon Inlet Marina 49 MPH 0812 AM 08/31 NOS-NWLON Buxton RAWS 46 MPH 1230 PM 08/31 RAWS Manteo (MQI AWOS) 45 MPH 0525 AM 08/31 AWOS Dare Co Gnry Ran (2DP AWOS) 41 MPH 1000 AM 08/31 AWOS Southern Shores 1.7 NNW 40 MPH 0628 AM 08/31 CWOP Kill Devil Hills (FFA AWOS) 37 MPH 0550 AM 08/31 AWOS Dare Bomb Range RAWS 37 MPH 0648 AM 08/31 RAWS Buxton 0.7 SE 35 MPH 1030 AM 08/31 CWOP ...Duplin County... Kenansville 40 MPH 0345 AM 08/31 CWOP Kenansville (DPL AWOS) 40 MPH 0645 AM 08/31 AWOS Wallace (ACZ AWOS) 37 MPH 0425 AM 08/31 AWOS Nc Fire Raws No. 3 35 MPH 0812 AM 08/31 RAWS Jacksonville 8.8 NNW 32 MPH 0206 AM 08/31 CWOP Wallace 6.4 WNW (Williamsdal 32 MPH 0435 AM 08/31 NC-ECONET ...Hyde County... Engelhard (7W6 AWOS) 39 MPH 0725 AM 08/31 AWOS Fairfield RAWS 32 MPH 0917 AM 08/31 RAWS ...Lenoir County... Kinston (ISO AWOS) 36 MPH 0525 AM 08/31 AWOS ...Onslow County... Jacksonville (NCA ASOS) 53 MPH 0412 AM 08/31 AWOS Sneads Ferry 1.7 SE 40 MPH 0800 AM 08/31 CWOP Richlands (OAJ AWOS) 40 MPH 0228 AM 08/31 AWOS Sandy Run RAWS 36 MPH 0719 AM 08/31 RAWS Jacksonville 7.0 W 32 MPH 0651 AM 08/31 CWOP Hoffman RAWS 30 MPH 0310 AM 08/31 RAWS ...Pamlico County... Oriental 1.7 NE 41 MPH 0815 AM 08/31 CWOP ...Pitt County... Greenville (PGV AWOS) 37 MPH 0605 AM 08/31 AWOS Greenville (Dowdy Ficklen St 32 MPH 0510 AM 08/31 MESOWEST FARMVILLE 30 MPH 0705 AM 08/31 CWOP ...Washington County... Creswell 2.6 SSW 39 MPH 0645 AM 08/31 CWOP Tidewater Research Station 37 MPH 0620 AM 08/31 NC-ECONET Pocosin Lakes RAWS 35 MPH 0717 AM 08/31 RAWS Roper 9.8 ENE 33 MPH 0445 AM 08/31 CWOP ...Maritime Stations... Pamlico Sound (WxFlow) 71 MPH 0928 AM 08/31 WXFLOW Diamond Buoy (41025) 67 MPH 1240 PM 08/31 NDBC Onslow Bay Buoy (41064) 65 MPH 0808 AM 08/31 NDBC Frisco Woods (WxFlow) 65 MPH 1049 AM 08/31 WXFLOW Avon Sound (WxFlow) 61 MPH 1100 AM 08/31 WXFLOW Crab Point (Wx Flow) 54 MPH 0820 AM 08/31 WXFLOW Duck Pier 53 MPH 1106 AM 08/31 NOS-NWLON Roanoke Sound Channel (WxFlo 49 MPH 0910 AM 08/31 WXFLOW Croatan Sound (WxFlow) 47 MPH 0559 AM 08/31 WXFLOW
Pictures/Social Media
Yes, NC 12 is open and passable. BUT this is NOT a day to be out on the roads. Standing rainwater, blowing sand and strong winds can be expected anywhere you go today. High tide is coming up in another 90 minutes or so. If you must drive today, do it with EXTREME CAUTION. pic.twitter.com/4LoB3MuJZS
— NCDOT NC12 (@NCDOT_NC12) August 31, 2023
Here is the current condition of N.C. 12 in #CedarIsland #CarteretCounty.
— NCDOT Southern Coast (@NCDOT_Scoast) August 31, 2023
Do not drive through flooded roadways. Turn around - don't drown. #ncwx #Idalia #NCDOT pic.twitter.com/jwtpEg2gip
Video from our crews in #CravenCounty. Conditions are still rough in some areas along the coast.
— NCDOT Southern Coast (@NCDOT_Scoast) August 31, 2023
If you have don't have to travel, stay at home today. If you do, continue to check https://t.co/i3hyWBzrmu where #NCDOT updates road closures and conditions. #ncwx #Idalia pic.twitter.com/00kTjATvBP
Wind gusts nearing hurricane force speeds between Frisco and Buxton, NC!! Much stronger than any winds I've ever felt with a supercell. The light mist was turned into dozens of tiny needles. Took this video with my eyes closed and face pointed into the wind!#ncwx… pic.twitter.com/dov5wNRGH9
— Zay (@stormchaserzay) August 31, 2023
âš ï¸ There is a road underneath that water.
— NCDOT Southern Coast (@NCDOT_Scoast) August 31, 2023
📠Morris Mariana Road in #CarteretCounty is flooded.
🚨 Use caution as waters in some coastal communities continue to rise.
🚧 Visit https://t.co/i3hyWBzrmu for the latest on #NC roads. pic.twitter.com/xh7aUMXd3F
An afternoon update: NC12 remains open, but you still shouldn't be out on the highway unless absolutely necessary, ESPECIALLY AFTER DARK. Sand and water are on the road in several locations, wind speeds are holding steady, and high tide tonight is 8:30. Stay home, stay safe. pic.twitter.com/iM9iEGbMR1
— NCDOT NC12 (@NCDOT_NC12) August 31, 2023
Main Street Ext. in #OnslowCounty will be closed for about a week.
— NCDOT Southern Coast (@NCDOT_Scoast) August 31, 2023
It may not look like much, but water from #Idalia was able to tunnel under the roadway beside the pipe, which could cause it to collapse. #ncwx
For your safety and others, never go around a barricade. 🚧 pic.twitter.com/c4bLWy73oV
@NWSMoreheadCity these were taken 12 hours apart yesterday at MRH. Quite a bit of surge came off the Newport River. pic.twitter.com/Ctx8LdeELV
— Ethan (@etmcdowell1) September 1, 2023