Idalia first developed into a tropical depression across the western Caribbean Sea near the Yucatan Peninsula on August 26th before slowly gaining strength and becoming a tropical storm on August 27th. The storm then began to take a northward track the next day, passing the western tip of Cuba while gaining strength. On August 29th, Idalia was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane early in the morning, then intensified to a Category 2 hurricane later in the day while tracking across the southeast Gulf of Mexico. Idalia then continued to strengthen as it accelerated northward on August 30th, passing off the Florida Suncoast as a Category 2 hurricane, before rapidly intensifying to a major Category 4 hurricane while approaching the Big Ben region of Florida across the northeast Gulf of Mexico. Idalia then made landfall at 645 AM EST on August 30th about 20 miles south of Perry, Florida as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph and a minimum central pressure of 949 mb.
Idalia continued to track north-northeast after landfall, eventually turning northeast and weakening to a strong tropical storm while traversing southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina late morning through evening hours on August 30th. Minimum surface pressures of 985.4 mb at Hinesville, GA (KLHW), 984.6 mb at Charleston City, SC (CHLS1) and 983.3 mb at the Savannah Entrance Light across nearshore coastal waters were recorded as Idalia tracked across the local area. Idalia then continued tracking northeast away from the region, exiting into the western Atlantic just south of Myrtle Beach, SC during early morning hours on August 31st. Idalia then began an eastward path across the western Atlantic, becoming a post tropical cyclone by late day, before continuing a track toward Bermuda for the next couple days.
Across southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina, the main impacts associated with Idalia included tropical storm force winds, heavy rain, storm surge and tornadoes. Tropical storm force winds gusts up to 40 to 69 mph (highest near coastal areas) aided with heavy rains led to numerous trees and power lines down across southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina. On August 30th, a maximum sustained wind of 44 knots and peak wind gust of 60 knots was recorded at the Tybee Island South sensor (XTYE) in southeast Georgia while a maximum sustained wind of 41 knots was recorded at the Folly South End (XFSE) sensor and a peak wind gust of 58 knots was recorded at the Beaufort (XBUF) sensor in southeast South Carolina. Additionally, a maximum sustained wind of 49 knots and a peak wind gust of 60 knots was recorded at the Savannah Entrance Light (XSEL) across nearshore coastal waters. One indirect injury occurred due to tropical storm winds when a vehicle collided with a fallen tree in Effingham County, GA. No fatalities occurred due to tropical storm winds across the area.
Storm total rainfall amounts generally ranged between 1 to 2 inches across coastal areas of southeast Georgia, 2 to 4 inches along and east of Interstate 95 across southeast South Carolina and 4 to 9 inches across far inland areas of southeast Georgia and areas west of Interstate 95 in southeast South Carolina. A peak storm total rainfall of 9.05 inches was recorded near Smoaks, South Carolina while a peak storm total rainfall of 8.28 inches was recorded near Metter, Georgia. Heavy rains across inland areas led to instances of flash flooding with numerous roads washed out, water entering a few structures and 2 vehicles being swept off roadways. No injuries or fatalities occurred due to heavy rain/flash flooding across the area.
Idalia's passage was coincident with high tide, resulting in storm surge generally between 2 to 3.5 ft along the southeast South Carolina coast. A maximum tide level of 3.47 ft MHHW (9.23 ft MLLW) was observed at the Charleston Harbor (CHTS1) tide gauge at 718 PM EST on August 30th, making it the 5th highest tide on record for that location. Damage/inundation from storm surge crossing roads, entering properties and flooding structures was most notable along the Charleston, Colleton, and Beaufort County coasts, mainly in the McClellanville, Isle of Palms, Mount Pleasant, Folly Beach, Downtown Charleston, Edisto Island and Saint Helena Island communities/areas. Peak storm surge (3.5 ft) was noted along areas adjacent to the Ashley River and the Charleston Harbor in Charleston County. Further south, a maximum tide level of 1.95 ft MHHW (9.45 ft MLLW) was observed at the Fort Pulaski (FPKG1) tide gauge at 654 PM EST on August 29th, which was consistent with water levels that typically do not produce significant impacts along the southeast Georgia coast. No injuries or fatalities occurred due to storm surge across the area.
A total of 6 tropical related tornadoes occurred across southeast Georgia into southeast South Carolina within rainbands associated with Idalia. One short-lived EF0 tornado occurred in Liberty County across southeast Georgia, mainly producing tree damage. Another EF0 tornado occurred in Charleston County across southeast South Carolina, downing/uprooting trees and producing minor roof damage to homes and vehicles in Mount Pleasant. Two waterspouts also shifted onshore along the northern end of Folly Beach in Charleston County, but were short-lived and caused no discernable damage. Two tornadoes occurred in Berkeley County across southeast South Carolina, one being an EF1 tornado that snapped/uprooted numerous trees along its path in the Francis Marion Forest and the second being a short-lived EF0 tornado that flipped a vehicle over on a highly traveled road in Goose Creek, SC. Two injuries resulted from the flipped vehicle. No fatalities occurred due to tornadoes across the area.

Tornado in LIBERTY, GEORGIA
From 30-AUG-23 09:00:00 to 30-AUG-23 09:03:00 (EST-5)
Location: FLEMING
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A storm damage survey completed by the Liberty County, Georgia Emergency Management Agency and collaborated with the National Weather Service confirmed an EF0 tornado with an estimated maximum wind speed of 85 mph in Liberty County occurring from 900 AM EST to 903 AM EST. The weak and brief tornado, associated with Hurricane Idalia, began about 0.5 miles east-southeast of Mount Olive Church Road in a very rural area. The tornado moved rapidly toward the northwest, ending just west of Mount Olive Church Road. Along its very short path, the tornado snapped the top of at least one pine tree, uprooted at least one other tree, broke some small to medium branches and destroyed a small wood shed.

Tropical Storm in COASTAL CHATHAM, GEORGIA
From 30-AUG-23 12:30:00 to 30-AUG-23 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A Chatham County emergency manager and 911 call center reported 7 trees down across coastal areas due to tropical storm force wind gusts between 50 to 69 mph as Hurricane Idalia transitioned to Tropical Storm Idalia.

Tropical Storm in EFFINGHAM, GEORGIA
From 30-AUG-23 12:33:00 to 30-AUG-23 20:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

An Effingham County emergency manager and fire department reported 5 trees and 1 power line down across the county due to winds associated with Hurricane Idalia as it transitioned to Tropical Storm Idalia. One tree fell onto a home, causing structural damage. One tree fell onto a car and another tree fell in a roadway in which a vehicle ran into, resulting in no injuries. Another vehicle collided with multiple trees on the 500 Block of Chimney Road, resulting in one person being transported to the hospital with an indirect injury.

Tropical Storm in COASTAL MCINTOSH, GEORGIA
From 30-AUG-23 15:00:00 to 30-AUG-23 16:00:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Broadcast Media

The media reported numerous trees down and damage to a couple structures around Darien, Georgia due to tropical storm force wind gusts between 40 to 50 mph as Hurricane Idalia transitioned to Tropical Storm Idalia.

Flash Flood in BULLOCH, GEORGIA
From 30-AUG-23 16:50:00 to 30-AUG-23 17:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: STATESBORO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Tropical System
Property damage: 55.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

An emergency manager reported numerous dirt roads washed out across the northern portions of Bulloch County due to heavy rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Idalia. Flooding waters also came near to entering homes along Northlake and Westlake Drives. Numerous paved roads were also flooded with water flowing across them. Daily rainfall amounts between 6 to 8.43 inches were recorded by the time of flash flooding starting across the area.

Flash Flood in CANDLER, GEORGIA
From 30-AUG-23 17:00:00 to 30-AUG-23 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: METTER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Tropical System
Property damage: 60.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Candler County Emergency Management reported numerous dirt roads washed out
across the county due to heavy rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Idalia. Flooding water also entered a nursing home in Metter. Daily rainfall amounts between 5.50 to 7.88 inches were recorded by the time of flash flooding starting across the area.

Flash Flood in CANDLER, GEORGIA
From 31-AUG-23 03:00:00 to 31-AUG-23 04:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: METTER
Flood cause: Dam / Levee Break
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A Candler County emergency manager reported a 55 acre pond dam failed on Cook Pond Road due to recent heavy rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Idalia.