Idalia pulls away from N.C., heads for Bermuda as post-tropical cyclone

Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Idalia pulled away from North Carolina and was blitzing toward Bermuda on Thursday night as a post-tropical cyclone after lashing the eastern part of the state with heavy rain and causing life-threatening flash flooding.

In its 11 p.m. EDT update, the National Hurricane Center located the storm about 270 miles east-southeast of Cape Hatteras, N.C., moving east at 23 mph.

The forecasters said its maximum sustained winds were 65 mph.

A Tropical storm watch remains in effect for Bermuda.

"Gradual weakening is forecast through early Saturday," it said. "Restrengthening is possible over the weekend, and Idalia is expected to transition back to a tropical storm on Saturday."

The storm is expected rapidly slow on Friday and Saturday as it turns east away from North Carolina and approach Bermuda.

Idalia had strengthened into a Category 4 storm early Wednesday but weakened some before making landfall as a Category 3.

Meanwhile, the NHC said Hurricane Franklin was pushing father out into the Atlantic past Bermuda.