Idalia heads into Georgia, the Carolinas as downgraded hurricane

Hurricane winds are thrashing through homes in Florida. (Credit: Kim Stewart-Maslanski via Storyful)

Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall in Florida as a dangerous Category 3 storm early Wednesday is now crossing Georgia and headed toward South Carolina, as a downgraded hurricane. 

The National Hurricane Center's 2 p.m. update indicated that Idalia's center was about 100 miles southwest of Savannah, Georgia, with top sustained winds of 75 mph, slightly above a hurricane force at 74 mph.

Floodwaters from Hurricane Idalia devastate local businesses and homes in Crystal River, Florida on Wednesday, August 30, 2023. (Mayor Joe Meek/Facebook )

Georgia officials say Hurricane Idalia is bringing down power lines and resulting in scattered reports of buildings damaged by falling trees.

Around 175,000 customers were without power in Georgia, where the storm's center was approaching Savannah. 

Floodwaters from Hurricane Idalia devastate local businesses and homes in Crystal River, Florida on Wednesday, August 30, 2023. (Jenna Alves)

Gov. Brian Kemp said Wednesday that the storm's impacts initially appeared to be less severe than 2018's Hurricane Michael, which caused widespread damage in south Georgia. This storm is narrow and moving fast, but he warned those in its path to be aware of the dangers.

Multiple counties in Georgia saw winds between 70 and 80 mph, with some gusts up to 90 mph, Kemp said. Other areas were anticipating nine to 10 inches of rain. 

Floodwaters from Hurricane Idalia devastate local businesses and homes in Crystal River, Florida on Wednesday, August 30, 2023. (Jenna Alves)

Georgia Emergency Management Agency meteorologist Will Lanxton says storm surge will likely be limited by the storm's speed, but there