Idalia Weakens to Tropical Storm

Idalia has now weakened to a Tropical Storm, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reports. However, the center warns that the risk of freshwater flooding, storm surge and strong winds continues across parts of Georgia and the Carolinas.

Where is Idalia?

As of 5 p.m. ET: The storm is located about 40 miles west of Savannah, Georgia, and 115 miles west/southwest of Charleston, South Carolina, according to the NHC.

The storm is packing maximum sustained winds of 70 mph.

At Least 75 Rescued in St. Petersburg

More than 75 people have been rescued from floodwaters in St. Petersburg, Florida, officials said late Wednesday afternoon.

Floodwater is beginning to recede, but the St. Petersburg Police Department warns it may take "several hours" to clear. The city was hit with flooding early Wednesday morning, leaving cars sitting underwater.

Flights Out of Savannah Canceled

Flights that were scheduled to depart the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport have been canceled for the rest of the day as the area awaits the arrival of Hurricane Idalia.

Airport officials said the airport is open but will no longer be allowing flights to depart. Passengers with scheduled flights were urged to check with their airline to see when their canceled flights will be rescheduled.

State officials said earlier Wednesday that Hurricane Idalia is expected to hit Savannah tonight, likely sometime between 6 and 9 p.m. ET.

Though the hurricane was downgraded from a Category 3 to a Category 1 storm after making landfall in Florida, state and local officials in Georgia urged people to remain on alert and take the threats posed by extreme weather seriously.

As the hurricane approached, people in Savannah began posting videos on social media showing how the high winds were already stirring the air and whipping tree branches.

Satellite imagery shared by the National Weather Service on X, formerly Twitter, showed the hurricane's progress from Monday night through Wednesday afternoon. As of 2 p.m., Hurricane Idalia was estimated to be about 100 miles southwest of Savannah.

Over 468k Without Power in Florida, Georgia

UPDATE: As of 4:50p.m. ET, there are 262,075 customers without power in Florida and 208,450 without power in Georgia. Outages are also now hitting South Carolina, where nearly 13,000 are in the dark, according to PowerOutage.us.

More than 468,000 customers in parts of Florida and Georgia remain without power amid Hurricane Idalia.

Data as of 4:10 p.m. ET from PowerOutage.us shows the following:

Florida: Crews are working to restore power, but 278,427 customers remain in the dark. Below are counties with the highest reported outages:

• Leon County: 37,083
• Columbia County: 29,025
• Suwannee County: 24,681

Georgia: 190,400 customers are without power. In Lowndes County, nearly all of Georgia Power's customers are without power.

• Lowndes County: 31,100
• Glynn County: 24,682

In an afternoon update, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said power has been restored to more than 260,000 households in the state.

Looters Reportedly Hitting Steinhatchee

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a warning to looters while delivering a Hurricane Idalia response update Wednesday afternoon in Perry.

DeSantis said he has heard reports of looters targeting Steinhatchee, a town along Florida's Gulf Coast that was hit early once Hurricane Idalia made landfall Wednesday morning.

"I've told all of our personnel at the state level, you know, you protect people's property. And we are not going to tolerate any looting in the aftermath of a natural disaster," DeSantis said. "I mean, it's just ridiculous that you would try to do something like that on the heels of an almost Category 4 hurricane hitting this community."

DeSantis reminded looters that they "never know" what they might encounter while attempting to break into a home or business.

"People have a right to defend their property," DeSantis said. He noted people in the area tend to be Second Amendment supporters.

"I would say, probably here, you loot, we shoot. You never know what's behind that door. If you go break into somebody's house and you're trying to loot, these are people that are going to be able to defend themselves and their families," DeSantis said. "So I would not do it."

Florida's Home Insurance Crisis

The topic of insurance has been a crucial part of the debate around Hurricane Idalia's impact across Florida.

The Sunshine State is experiencing an ongoing home insurance crisis, with residents paying four times more than the national home insurance rate in the country.

The increased cost of home insurance has made protecting homes unaffordable for many Floridians, at the same time as major insurers decided to drop out of the state because of the growing risk of extreme weather events in the state, linked to climate change.

As of June 30, there were 1.32 million active policies in place tied to Citizens, said Gallagher Re.

"In terms of Citizens' exposure in relation to Idalia, the current NHC track...would bring the storm into an area with some of the fewest policies in force and the lowest insured exposure," the broker said.

Read the full story from Newsweek's Giulia Carbonaro below:

Biden Gives Update on Federal Response

President Joe Biden delivered an update on the federal response to Hurricane Idalia during a Wednesday afternoon press briefing. The White House said he is being briefed regularly on the storm's progress.

Biden said he has spoken today with the governors of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina to check in on the hurricane's impacts. Though Hurricane Idalia has been downgraded to a Category 1 storm, Biden said people in the storm's path must "remain vigilant" because it remains "very dangerous."

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell will be traveling to Florida later Wednesday and will be meeting with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday, according to Biden. Earlier Wednesday, Criswell said federal workers were in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina in anticipation of the hurricane's morning arrival.

In total, more than 1,500 federal workers are on the ground to assist with storm response efforts. The federal government also has more than 1.3 million meals and 1.6 million liters of water ready to send out, pending requests from governors in impacted states.

"We will continue to stay in close contact with our state partners to address any immediate needs," FEMA said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

U.S. Coast Guard teams are available to assist with search and rescue efforts. Three Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams have been sent to Florida, and administration officials said U.S. Army Corps of Engineers teams and more than 540 Urban Search and Rescue workers are on hand to help.

The Red Cross also has resources available to help as many as 20,000 people in need of shelter.

As the storm continues moving through the southeast U.S., Biden said he is "ready to mobilize" whatever support the governors in impacted states need.

Curfew Set in Florida's Madison County

Authorities in Madison County, Florida, have ordered a 12-hour curfew for the area set to take effect at 8 p.m. ET.

Madison County Sheriff David Harper ordered the curfew because of the "extensive damage" Hurricane Idalia caused throughout the county.

The curfew "will remain in effect until further notice" to ensure the safety of residents and first responders, and will be "evaluated daily for continued need," Harper said in a post on Facebook.

Earlier Wednesday, the Madison County Sheriff's Office reported that the county "definitely took a hard hit" and was still battling tropical storm force winds.

"Stay off of the roads as most are not passible," the sheriff's office warned local residents, adding that people should be on the lookout for risks posed by fallen trees and downed power lines.

Photos: Damage Across Steinhatchee, Perry

The worst of the storm is now out of Florida, but widespread flooding and damage remains.

Steinhatchee, FL:

Photos show the Steinhatchee marina and roads nearby flooded.

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The storm surge was so powerful that it reversed the flow of the Steinhatchee River, Weather Nation reports.

Perry, FL:

Earlier Wednesday, one resident captured video as large trees were crashing down near a home in Perry.

Other videos show damaged buildings and gas stations across town.

Charleston Residents Told to 'Stay Indoors'

Hurricane Idalia is expected to arrive in Charleston, South Carolina, at around 8 p.m. ET, according to local officials.

Joe Coates, the director of Charleston County's Emergency Management Department, told NBC News the King Tides could bring waves up to 8.3 feet in height by Wednesday night. Coates also predicted the area would experience tropical storm force winds as Hurricane Idalia moved closer.

County residents should "stay indoors and not go out for like the next pretty much 24 hours," he said.

In addition to the rain, wind and tide warnings, the National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for Charleston and nearby areas through 10 p.m. Local residents were also instructed to be wary of hail and wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency on Tuesday in anticipation of the storm's arrival. Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg also took steps on Tuesday to prepare for Hurricane Idalia as he warned of the potential for heavy rain, high wind and King Tides.

Tampa Mayor Warns of Additional 'Extensive' Flooding

Crews are out across Tampa, Florida, clearing roadways and repairing power outages.

In an early afternoon update, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor warned of "further extensive flooding" in some areas. The city will "continue to see that water come in" throughout the early afternoon, she said, urging residents to be vigilant.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has deployed its aviation unit to assess the damage left behind. The HCSO shared aerial footage on X, showing significant flooding -- with homes, cars and trees underwater.

Soon: Biden to Deliver Remarks on Federal Response

President Joe Biden will deliver remarks later this hour on the federal government's response to Hurricane Idalia.

Biden is scheduled to provide a briefing from the Roosevelt Room at 1:45 p.m. ET, watch live below:

Oak Tree Falls on Florida Governor's Mansion

A 100-year-old oak tree has fallen on the governor's mansion in Florida after Hurricane Idalia blew through Tallahassee.

Florida first lady Casey DeSantis said that she and her three children were at the governor's mansion at the time, but "thankfully" no one was injured.

"Our prayers are with everyone impacted by the storm," she wrote.

DeSantis shared a photo on X, formerly Twitter, early Wednesday afternoon. The extent of the damage was not immediately known.

Florida Airport Update: Tampa to Partially Reopen Today

The Tampa and St. Pete-Clearwater International Airports will resume some operations later this afternoon.

Tampa International: The airport will reopen to arriving flights at 4 p.m. ET today.

Departing flights and normal operations will resume early Thursday morning, the airport said in a post on X. The airport sustained "minimal damage" from the hurricane, the post says.

The airport, like others in Florida, closed ahead of the storm. Some 196 flights scheduled to depart Wednesday from the airport are canceled as well as 146 inbound flights, according to FlightAware.

St. Pete-Clearwater International: The airport will reopen at 3 p.m. ET, with flights to resume Thursday, the airport announced.

Sarasota Bradenton International: The airport opened this morning; however, travelers are urged to check with airlines prior to arriving.

Tallahassee International: The airport will remain closed today, with normal operations set to resume Thursday morning.

Idalia Expected to Reach Savannah Tonight

Hurricane Idalia is expected to reach Savannah, Georgia, between 6 and 9 p.m. ET, according to officials with Georgia's Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (EM&HS).

State officials are predicting the storm will reach the area with tropical storm strength, due to the speed at which the storm has begun to weaken after making landfall in Florida earlier Wednesday.

Savannah residents can expect heavy rain, "strong, gusty winds" and potentially "minor coastal flooding," officials said at a midday news conference. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said it's a "good thing" the storm is striking during the daylight hours because it's "a lot easier to monitor" than it would be if it were to arrive at night. Even so, he said Georgia residents still need to take precautions.

"It's still a very dangerous situation that people need to prepare for as the storm moves through the state," said Kemp, who declared a state of emergency on Tuesday in anticipation of Hurricane Idalia's arrival.

"People need to prepare, they need to be ready when it's coming through and either, you know, move a county or two up if they have the ability to do that. If not, make sure they're in a secure location," Kemp said.

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, who also issued an emergency order for his city on Tuesday, urged residents to "take this seriously" during a Wednesday morning news conference. Johnson said he and other local officials are "extremely concerned" about the storm's potential impacts.

"We are in a significant storm event right now. We are feeling the wind. We are feeling the water, and it is going to get worse throughout the day," Johnson said.

'Damaging Winds' Batter Southern Georgia

Hurricane Idalia is now hitting Georgia, where the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reports "damaging winds" battering the southern part of the state.

Where is Idalia?

The storm remains a Category 1, with maximum sustained winds now near 85 mph, with higher gusts, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration radar data indicates.

As of noon, Idalia was about 25 miles east/northeast of Valdosta, Georgia, and about 135 miles west/southwest of Savannah, Georgia, according to the NHC update.

Two Deaths Reported in Weather-Related Crashes

Two deaths have been reported in Florida due to weather-related crashes, according to the state's highway patrol.

The first crash was reported just before 6 a.m. ET in Gainesville along SR-20 in Alachua County. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) said a 59-year-old Gainsville man died, describing conditions as "extremely rainy" at the time.

The second separate crash happened around 6:15 a.m. on St. Joe Road in Pasco County. A 40-year-old man was driving "too fast for conditions," lost control and crashed into a tree, FHP said.

NASA Video Shows Idalia From Space

The International Space Station flew over Hurricane Idalia as the storm made landfall in Florida Wednesday morning.

NASA TV began broadcasting the Space Station's live video feed on X, formerly Twitter, at 10:35 a.m. ET. The video lasts more than 10 minutes and shows the Space Station approaching the hurricane, which appears as a large white swirl that cloaks the land beneath it.

The Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, a research institute at Colorado State University, also shared nighttime visibility images on X that showed Hurricane Idalia approaching Florida before it made landfall.

Flash Flood Emergency in Valdosta

A Flash Flood Emergency is in effect for Valdosta, Remerton and Dasher as Hurricane Idalia approaches Georgia. The warning is in effect until 12:45 p.m. ET, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

The NWS has received reports of water rescues in Lowndes County, where Valdosta is located. Between 3 and 5 inches of rain was estimated to have fallen in a single hour as the storm drew near.

Intense winds are battering Valdosta, with one video showing a stop sign leaning into a local road. Idalia was 15 miles south/southeast of the city as of 11 a.m. ET, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Power Outages:

Power outages are rapidly spreading across the area. More than 26,800 customers have lost power as of 11:45 a.m. ET in Lowndes County alone, according to PowerOutage.US. The storm has knocked out power to more than 61,300 customers across the southern part of the state, the site shows.

Idalia 15 Miles South of Valdosta, Downgraded to Category 1

Hurricane Idalia has now been downgraded to a Category 1 storm, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center. The storm is still packing a punch with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph as it batters the southeast and approaches Georgia.

Where is the storm now?

As of 11 a.m. ET, Idalia was 15 miles south/southeast of Valdosta, Georgia, and about 165 miles southwest of Savannah, Georgia.

"A turn toward the northeast is expected later today, followed by an east-northeastward to eastward motion on Thursday," the NHC predicts in its latest update.

"On the forecast track, the center of Idalia will move across southeastern Georgia today, near the coast of South Carolina tonight, and just offshore the coast of southern North Carolina on Thursday. Idalia is then expected to move east-southeastward over the western Atlantic on Friday."

NWS Warns of Hurricane Franklin Brewing in Atlantic

A second storm, Hurricane Franklin, is prompting warnings from the National Weather Service as Hurricane Idalia drenches Florida.

Hurricane Franklin is not expected to make landfall in the U.S. It's path in the Atlantic Ocean will carry it further away from the East Coast, with the outer reaches of the storm expected to pass near Bermuda.

Despite Hurricane Franklin's trajectory, its power will still bring "potentially deadly surf and rip currents" to the East Coast, the National Weather Service has warned.

Watch: Extensive Damage, Toppled Trees, Snorkeling?

Videos show extensive damage, toppled trees and flooding from Florida's Big Bend.

Waves are seen crashing into homes in Cedar Key and downed trees are seen in parts of Perry in the video below.

Timelapse video shows the storm surge pushing on shore in Steinhatchee, Florida.

Despite advisories and evacuation orders, some seem to always hit the water during these life-threatening storms. One photo shows a man reportedly snorkeling across the floodwater.

In Tampa, two young men sat on a massive duck floatie, using an ore to travel.

Federal Personnel Staged in 3 States

More than 1,000 federal personnel are on the ground in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina "ready to go in and help" with hurricane response efforts, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell told MSNBC.

Federal officials will be communicating regularly with the three states' governors to understand what resources they need as the storm presses further up Florida's coast.

Preparation efforts set up in advance of Hurricane Idalia's landfall demonstrate a "massive effort from the entire federal family," she added. These efforts are supported by nonprofits like the American Red Cross and Salvation Army.

The National Response Coordination Center has been activated since yesterday and will remain available 24/7 so officials there can coordinate with federal personnel in the field. This is important to "help move those resources quickly and make sure that we're not missing any of the needs that any of our governors may have as they experience and understand what the impacts of from this storm are going to be," Criswell said.

Damaging Winds Hit Southern Georgia, 20k Without Power

UPDATE 11a.m. ET: More than 37,200 customers are without power in southern Georgia, according to PowerOutage.us.

Damaging winds are now spreading into southern Georgia, the National Hurricane Center reports.

Maximum sustained winds are near 105mph with higher gusts as of 10 a.m. ET, the center reports, according to NOAA radar data.

More than 20,300 customers are without power in the southern part of the state, according to PowerOutage.us.

Videos show rain and wind whipping through parts of Valdosta.

Photos: Clearwater Harbor Flooded, Residents Kayak

It's been less than two hours since Idalia slammed Florida's Big Bend -- streets are flooded, cars are trapped and people are wading through water with their belongings.

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Above, damage is seen at the boardwalk at the Clearwater Harbor Marina, flooded by the rising tide early Wednesday. Below, homes are underwater in parts of Tarpon Springs, where residents are wading, kayaking and canoeing through high flood waters.

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An aerial view also shows the downtown area of Tarpon Springs underwater as Idalia passed offshore.

Hundreds of Flights Canceled, Delayed

Hundreds of flights continue being canceled and delayed amid Hurricane Idalia.

Southwest Airlines is the most impacted, with 211 flights canceled and 193 delayed as of 9:40a.m ET, according to FlightAware data.

Several airports remain closed: Tampa, St. Pete-Clearwater, Sarasota and Tallahassee.

While others remain open, airports urge passengers to check with airlines prior to arrival. Some airports with the highest cancellations include: Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson, Orlando, Charlotte/Douglas and Savannah/Hilton Head, according to the flight tracker website.

Crews are assessing storm damage at the Tampa International Airport and officials plan to announce reopening plans "later today."

Over 245,000 Customers Without Power

More than 245,000 customers are without power as the now Category 2 storm lashes across Florida.

Power outage numbers have rapidly increased this morning, now up to 245,385 customers, according to PowerOutage.us.

The latest National Hurricane Center's update downgraded the powerful storm to a Category 2, packing maximum sustained winds of 110 mph-- with higher gusts.