While Tropical Storm Idalia has been upgraded to a category 1 hurricane, the National Weather Service reported this morning it is still expected to make landfall on the west coast of Florida and then move northeast over coastal Georgia and the coastal Carolinas Wednesday through Thursday night.

Heavy rainfall and gusty winds remain the main threats associated with the storm in central North Carolina, the NWS Raleigh bureau said.

Those impacts will primarily be south and east of Raleigh. There remains some uncertainty regarding the exact track of the storm and how far inland any significant effects will spread.

The rainfall amounts associated with Idalia have increased to between 2 and 5 inches south and east of Raleigh with the highest totals across the southeast sections of the state in a line from Charlotte to Roanoke Rapids.

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Hurricane Idalia is forecast to move northward then northeast while increasing in forward speed over the next few days. It is forecast to make landfall Wednesday morning as a major hurricane on the west coast of Florida and then move quickly to the northeast and track along or just offshore of the Carolinas by late this week.

The NWS said there is a one in 10 chance of tropical storm-force winds across the far southeastern portions of central North Carolina — the locations of the greatest risk will be across the central and southern Coastal Plain including the I-95 corridor and far eastern Sandhills.

Meanwhile on Monday, while Idalia was still categorized as a tropical storm, Dominion Energy said it is keeping a close eye on the weather forecast, expecting heavy rain over the next few days and strong wind gusts along the coastal areas. “The safety of our customers and crews is our top priority. We are prepared for potential power outages in South Carolina late Wednesday and coastal Virginia and North Carolina on Thursday.” 

Dominion said “all hands are on deck ahead of the storm. Our crews stand ready to respond and will be staged based on our needs and predicted impacts. Crew members, vehicles and equipment are staged all across the company’s service territory. We have already begun communications with neighboring utilities and contract companies to secure additional resources if needed.”