SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Early this morning a tropical storm watch changed into an official warning in the tri-county region, as Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida. It will result in deteriorating weather conditions within 36 hours along the Carolinas coast.
READ MORE: Carolinas coast under tropical storm watch, area beaches prepare for Idalia’s arrival
The hurricane landed as a Category 3 with 120 mile-per-hour winds near Keaton Beach. It will move across Georgia and up the coast of the Carolinas Wednesday and Thursday.
Wind gusts and flooding have increased slightly from the last update from the National Weather Service. Sustained winds will be 30 to 40 miles per hour, with gusts up to 60 miles per hour; it could add to downed limbs, felled weakened trees, and isolated power outages. Tornadoes and waterspouts are possible.
Eight to 10 inches of rainfall is expected. The region is under a flood watch, with storm surge potentially rising 1 to 3 inches above ground level.
Flooding will be at its peak during high tide on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, which also coincides with king tides — exceptionally high tides that occur during a new or full moon. The full moon is Wednesday, Aug. 30.
The worst of the storm is expected Wednesday night into Thursday morning in the tri-county area. However, Idalia, compounded by Hurricane Franklin also in the Atlantic, will make rip currents dangerous throughout the remainder of the week.
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Announcements for area closings, as well as cancellations and delays, have gone into effect due to the storm’s arrival. Check back for updates, as Port City Daily will add to the list as more information becomes available.
New Hanover County
Bellamy Mansion Museum — Closed Thursday
Calvary Christian School — Closed Thursday
Cameron Art Museum — Closed Thursday, will reopen Friday at 10 a.m.
Cape Fear Community College — All campus locations close at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30, and will remain closed through Thursday, Aug. 31.
Cape Fear Public Utility Authority — Will open offices at 305 Chestnut St. and 230 Government Center Drive at 12:30 p.m. Thursday
Carolina Beach’s Freeman Park — Closing noon Wednesday
Carolina Beach Trash Collection — Trash services normally provided on Thursday, Aug. 31, and will occur next week
Carolina Beach Town Offices — Operations closed Thursday; recreation center and town hall closing at 5 p.m. Wednesday
City of Wilmington Mosquito Control — Will not spray this week
City of Wilmington Trash Collection — Customers that normally receive trash pick-up Thursday will be serviced a day earlier, Wednesday, Aug. 30
Coastal Horizons Overdose Awareness Day Event — Originally scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 31, it’s been postponed to a later date
Coastal Horizons offices in NHC — Will open at 12:30 p.m. Thursday
Coastal Horizons — Intensive Out Patient Groups for New Hanover, Pender and Brunswick counties are canceled Wednesday; Justice Services Groups canceled Wednesday
GLOW Academy — Closed Thursday
Kure Beach Town Hall — Closing at 1 p.m. Wednesday
Historic Thalian Hall — Will close after the 4 p.m. screening of “Shortcomings” and will not open until noon Thursday
New Hanover County ABC Stores — Closing at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and will reopen at noon Thursday, as long as conditions allow
New Hanover County Government — The county government is delaying opening its offices on Thursday until 12:30 p.m. Essential emergency services will continue to operate as usual. Courts and courthouses will be closed in New Hanover and Pender counties on Thursday, Aug. 31. They will resume their normal schedule on Friday, Sept. 1.
New Hanover County Commission for Women — Regular meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 30 at 4 p.m. has been canceled.
New Hanover County Schools — Transitioning to remote instruction on Thursday, Aug. 31. All afterschool activities and athletics scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 30, and Thursday, Aug. 31, are canceled, with the exception of afterschool care on Wednesday, Aug. 30.
North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher — Closed Thursday, Aug. 31, will reopen Friday, Sept. 1.
Port of Wilmington — To close and suspend operations Wednesday evening
Publix — The grocery store chain will close stores at 5 p.m. Wednesday and will reopen noon on Thursday, pending favorable weather conditions. It affects the following locations:
- Publix Commons at Federal Point: 1018 Lake Park Blvd. N, Carolina Beach
- Arboretum at Surf City: 2765 NC Hwy 210 E, Hampstead
- Oak Island Marketplace: 5003 E Oak Island Drive, Oak Island
- Ocean Isle Beach Market Place: 1560 Market Place Blvd., Ocean Isle Beach
- Publix at Pine Valley: 716 Bragg Drive, Wilmington
- Ogden Market Place: 7144 Market St., Wilmington
UNCW — Remote learning on Thursday, Aug. 31
Wave Transit — Start of fixed route and RideMirco services will be delayed to 1 p.m. Thursday; paratransit customers will be contacted individually regarding scheduled trips
Wilmington Preparatory Academy — Closed Thursday
Wrightsville Beach — Administrative offices closed Thursday; trash collection is cancelled for Thursday and those impacted should put out cans for Friday pick up
Brunswick County
Belville Town Park — Closing at 5 p.m., as well as the farmers market and Fun Time Ice Cream
Brunswick Community College — Closing at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, meaning evening classes are also cancelled. Campuses will be closed on Thursday and move to remote learning when able, and the college is set to reopen on a normal schedule Friday. The closure includes the Dinah E. Gore Sports and Aquatics Complex and the Odell Williamson Auditorium.
Brunswick County Job Fair — Postponed from Aug. 31 to Sept. 7
Brunswick County Schools — Public schools will have early dismissal Wednesday and will close Thursday
Brunswick County Trash Collection — All Thursday curbside trash and recycling from GFL will be rescheduled for pickup on Saturday, Sept. 2. There are no planned changes to Wednesday and Friday collection routes
Brunswick Transit System — No transportation services will be provided on Thursday and its offices will be closed
Coastal Horizons Mobile Clinic — Will operate remotely via teletherapy on Wednesday and Thursday
Fort Johnston-Southport Visitors’ Center & Museum — Closed on Thursday
Leland Town Facilities — Leland Cultural Arts Center will close at 5 p.m. Wednesday; all town facilities will be close Thursday
Leland Parks and Rec Board Meeting — Canceled for Aug. 30
Museum of Coastal Carolina and Ingram Planetarium — Closed Wednesday at 3 p.m. and all day Thursday
North Carolina Maritime Museums in Southport, Beaufort and Hatteras — Closed Thursday
Southport’s Board of Aldermen — Aug. 31 special meeting and homeless forum is canceled
Southport’s Concert in the Park — Canceled on Thursday, will not be rescheduled
Southport city pier, dock, parks and Riverwalk — Closing 4 p.m. Wednesday
Southport Historic Preservation Commission — Wednesday meeting canceled and will be rescheduled
Southport Maritime Museum — Closed Thursday and expected to reopen Friday but conditions could require extended closure
Southport Summer Market — Closed Wednesday
Sunset Beach’s Sunset Sound Waves Concert — Wednesday night’s concert has been canceled
Sunset Beach Market — Canceled Thursday
Pender County
Moores Creek National Battlefield — Closed Thursday
North Topsail’s New River Inlet Road — North Topsail Beach Fire Department announced that a portion of New River Inlet Road is closed near the intersection of Sea Gull Lane due to flooding. Drivers should avoid the area; the roadway will remain open for residents.
Pender County Courthouse — Closed Thursday, Aug. 31; will resume normal schedule on Friday, Sept. 1.
Pender County Schools — Public schools will switch to remote learning on Thursday
Topsail Beach Trash Collection — Trash pick-up will be rescheduled to Wednesday and the bulk item pick-up on Friday is canceled
Topsail Island Shoreline Protection Commission — Thursday meeting canceled; a rescheduled date will be posted at a later time
Town of Burgaw — Declared a state of emergency effective 5 p.m. Wednesday; the town will operate an emergency operations center beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday through the duration of the storm and can be reached at 910-259-2151; town administrative offices are closed Thursday
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