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Brunt of Idalia moves northeast, sparing much of Gainesville

Densely-populated college town prepared for potentially catastrophic damage
Brunt of Idalia moves northeast, sparing much of Gainesville, Florida
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Just hours after Hurricane Idalia made landfall along Florida's Big Bend as a powerful Category 3 storm, it made its way northeast, steering clear of Gainesville and sparing much of the densely populated college town.

The city was preparing for damaging wind gusts up to 100 mph and the possibility of torrential downpours and flooding. But it appears the brunt of the damage can be seen in less-populated coastal towns west of Gainesville.

SEE MORE: Category 3 Hurricane Idalia makes landfall along Florida Gulf Coast

Just an hour away in the town of Cedar Key, a tide gauge reported a storm surge of nearly 7 feet, flooding much of the area and destroying many properties that residents had fled before the storm's arrival. While much of the rain and wind has already passed through the area, the storm surge is expected to continue rising throughout the day, with some estimates predicting 12 to 16 feet of water when all is said and done.

Meanwhile, the effects won't just be felt at the coast. A hurricane warning was issued for parts of the Georgia and South Carolina coast, including Savannah and Hilton Head. The National Hurricane Center said it believes Idalia will maintain hurricane status for much of Wednesday before heading back to sea on Thursday as a tropical storm. 


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TROPICAL STORM WATCH: An announcement that tropical storm conditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) are possible within the specified coastal area within 48 hours.

TROPICAL STORM WARNING: An announcement that tropical storm conditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) are expected within the specified coastal area within 36 hours.

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HURRICANE WARNING: An announcement that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) are expected somewhere within the specified coastal area. A hurricane warning is issued 36 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds.