Tropical Storm Idalia | Eastern North Carolina Now

News Release:

    Good Afternoon Everyone,

    Our office is monitoring the development of Tropical Storm Idalia and it's potential impacts to our area. The current forecast for Beaufort County is as follows.

    Monday & Tuesday

• Passing showers that are unrelated to Idalia will continue to move through Beaufort County today and tomorrow with most areas receiving 1 to 1 1/2 inches of rain by sunset Tuesday.

    Wednesday & Thursday

• Rain
• Precipitation from Idalia will begin to move into our area Wednesday and continue through midnight Thursday. Accumulation will be largely dependent on the exact track of the storm. For example, most areas of Beaufort County would receive 2 to 4 inches of rain if Idalia continues to follow a more southeastern track as indicated by the current National Hurricane Center Forecast and European Forecast Model runs. However, if Idalia takes a more western track as indicated by the GFS Model, we could receive more than 4 inches of rain. (We hope that these models will be in more agreement with each other over the next 24 hrs.)
• Our heaviest rains are currently forecasted to occur between 2pm Wednesday afternoon and 8am Thursday morning, with rain exiting the our area by sunrise Friday.
• Winds
• Unlike rainfall totals, the various forecast models seem to agree on the winds that are being forecasted for Beaufort County, with most areas experiencing sustained winds of 20 to 25 mph with frequent gust of 35 to 40 mph.
• Our highest winds are currently forecasted to occur between 4am Thursday and 4am Friday.
• Severe Storms & Tornado
• As with many tropical weather systems, passing rain bands can result in severe thunderstorms capable of producing flash flooding as a result of heavy downpours and possible tornados. While severe storms are possible for all of Beaufort County Wednesday and Thursday, areas south and east of Belhaven, Bath and Blounts Creek will be at a slightly greater risk than other portions of our county.
• Storm Surge
• 1 to 3 feet of storm surge is expected along the shorelines of our county Wednesday night and Thursday.

    Things to remember and look for:

• These forecasted conditions are dependent on the actual track Idalia takes as it moves across the Gulf of Mexico and the Southern US. A more southern / eastern track as currently indicated by the official forecast is more favorable to our area and well lessen the impacts we experience. (The system will move through our area faster with less rainfall and less overall time under inclement conditions.) A more northern / western track would be less favorable, and subject us to more inclement conditions for a longer period of time.

    Please see the email below and attached briefing from the National Weather Service for additional information. Their next update is scheduled for 9am tomorrow morning. We will continue to pass along information as we receive it. We also encourage everyone to continue to monitor local media outlets for more frequent updates.

    As always, thank you for what you do to keep Beaufort County informed, prepared and safe.


   Chris Newkirk
   Deputy Director
   Beaufort County Emergency Services
   1420 Highland Dr
   Washington, NC 27889
   Office: (252)940-6511
   Cell: (252) 378-5352


    National Weather Service Email

    Good Evening,

    No big changes to the forecast. We have added significant details with the attached briefing with regards to all of the possible threats from Idalia. Continue to monitor for updates over the next few days.

    We remain in a prolonged period of dangerous rip current/surf conditions and beach erosion as Major Hurricane Franklin passes offshore. Localized ocean over wash along the Outer Banks is also possible during this time.

    Our next briefing will be issued by 9 AM Tuesday. Please let us know if you have any questions.




   NOAA - National Weather Service
   Newport/Morehead City, NC Weather Forecast Office
   533 Roberts Rd
   Newport, NC 28570