When the Triangle can expect wind, rain (and cooler temps) from Hurricane Idalia

Jul 19, 2023

Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida Wednesday morning as a Category 3 hurricane, bringing deadly storm surge and 125 mph wind. The storm has since weakened to a Category 1 hurricane, but it is still expected to impact North Carolina’s coast and inland areas.

Here’s how the Triangle and central parts of North Carolina could feel the effects of Idalia.

The National Weather Service Raleigh put a hazardous weather outlook in place for the central part of the state, forecasting strong winds and heavy rain Wednesday and Thursday.

This story reflects the NWS Raleigh forecast as of noon Wednesday.

We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available from the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center.

Idalia will move up the Carolina coast late Wednesday into Thursday, NWS Raleigh reports.

The southern coastal plains counties will get the worst of the storm, seeing up to 6 inches of rain and hazardous wind conditions.

In the Raleigh area:

▪ Rain: Expected to get 1-2 inches of rain from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday evening.

Rain will progressively get heavier as it creeps into central North Carolina, beginning slowly in the afternoon and getting to its heaviest Wednesday evening.

▪ Wind: Gusty winds of 20 to 30 mph. Isolated gusts to 45 mph.

There is a 5-10% chance of tropical storm force winds across southeastern portions of central North Carolina. The earliest reasonable time of arrival is early Wednesday evening.

▪ Flooding: Because of the “excessive rainfall,” flooding continues to be possible. But this is a much larger threat in the southern coastal plain counties.

▪ Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 p.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain.

Cloudy, with a high near 84.

Southwest wind around 6 mph.

Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

▪ Wednesday night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain.

Low around 65.

Breezy, with a light east wind becoming northeast 15 to 20 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.

Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

▪ Thursday: Showers, mainly before 2 p.m.

High near 71.

Breezy, with a north wind 15 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph.

Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

▪ Thursday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. North wind around 9 mph.

(Source: weather.gov/rah as of 12 p.m. Wednesday)

Johnston County Public Schools announced on Wednesday that schools will be closed on Thursday for all students, staff and visitors, due to expected inclement weather conditions from the storm system.

This includes all after-school activities on Thursday.

“This decision has been made out of an abundance of caution and per the guidance of local and state emergency service officials,” read the announcement from JCPS.