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Air carriers grounded more than 100 flights in and out of Atlanta, leaving frustrated travelers scrambling to figure out how to make it to their destinations.
ATLANTA - Idalia forced airlines to delay and cancel thousands of flights around the southeast.
The Category 3 storm made landfall on the coast of Florida's Big Bend near Keaton Beach at 7:45 a.m. With its 125 mph winds and significant flooding, it posed an immediate threat to lives and properties. The storm weakened to a tropical storm with winds of 70 mph as it continued to lash Georgia and the Carolinas.
Air carriers grounded more than 100 flights in and out of Atlanta, leaving frustrated travelers scrambling to figure out how to make it to their destinations.
"We’ve been flying 24 hours already," said Gillian Allen, who flew from Australia to watch her grandson’ baseball tournament in Charleston. But something not so funny happened on the way the ballpark. "The one we were to get on this afternoon was canceled due to the weather."
TRACKING IDALIA: LATEST ON STORM SYSTEM
Allen’s airline grounded her connecting flight from Atlanta to Charleston. "I’ve just booked hotel for the night. I gotta stay, hopefully only tonight, and we can get on a flight tomorrow," Allen said.
Allen is one of thousands of passengers at Harstfield-Jackson whose flights got delayed or canceled on Wednesday. The powerful storm pounded Florida and swamped south Georgia.
Allen wondered if she’d make it to her grandson’s game on Friday.
"I’m hoping we do, yes," he said.
A boat is left among debris in a yard in the Signal Cove community in Hudson, Florida on August 30, 2023, after Hurricane Idalia made landfall. (MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images)
A boat is left among debris in a yard in the Signal Cove community in Hudson, Florida on August 30, 2023, after Hurricane Idalia made landfall. (MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images)
Aerial view of burned rubbles are seen where a house stood after a power transformer explosion in the community of Signal Cove in Hudson, Florida, on August 30, 2023, after Hurricane Idalia made landfall. (MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images)
Aerial view of burned rubbles are seen where a house stood after a power transformer explosion in the community of Signal Cove in Hudson, Florida, on August 30, 2023, after Hurricane Idalia made landfall. (MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images)
Donnye Franklin helps a friend try to get the flood waters out of his Explorer Manatee Tour store after Hurricane Idalia passed offshore on August 30, 2023 in Crystal River, Florida.
Donnye Franklin helps a friend try to get the flood waters out of his Explorer Manatee Tour store after Hurricane Idalia passed offshore on August 30, 2023 in Crystal River, Florida.
An aerial view shows a police vehicle driving along a flooded street in New Port Richey, Florida, on August 30, 2023, after Hurricane Idalia made landfall. (MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images)
An aerial view shows a police vehicle driving along a flooded street in New Port Richey, Florida, on August 30, 2023, after Hurricane Idalia made landfall. (MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images)
A backyard of a house is seen flooded in Steinhatchee, Florida on August 30, 2023, after Hurricane Idalia made landfall. (CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
A backyard of a house is seen flooded in Steinhatchee, Florida on August 30, 2023, after Hurricane Idalia made landfall. (CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
A backyard of a house is seen flooded in Steinhatchee, Florida on August 30, 2023, after Hurricane Idalia made landfall. (CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
A backyard of a house is seen flooded in Steinhatchee, Florida on August 30, 2023, after Hurricane Idalia made landfall. (CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
A woman walks through a flooded street after Hurricane Idalia passed offshore on August 30, 2023 in Crystal River, Florida, United States. (Paul Hennessy/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
A woman walks through a flooded street after Hurricane Idalia passed offshore on August 30, 2023 in Crystal River, Florida, United States. (Paul Hennessy/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
People watch as a vehicle drives through a flooded street after Hurricane Idalia passed offshore on August 30, 2023 in Crystal River, Florida, United States. (Paul Hennessy/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
People watch as a vehicle drives through a flooded street after Hurricane Idalia passed offshore on August 30, 2023 in Crystal River, Florida, United States. (Paul Hennessy/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Men stand in a flooded street after Hurricane Idalia passed offshore on August 30, 2023 in Crystal River, Florida, United States. (Paul Hennessy/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Men stand in a flooded street after Hurricane Idalia passed offshore on August 30, 2023 in Crystal River, Florida, United States. (Paul Hennessy/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
A tow truck drives through flood waters in New Port Richey, Florida, on August 30, 2023, after Hurricane Idalia made landfall. (MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images)
A tow truck drives through flood waters in New Port Richey, Florida, on August 30, 2023, after Hurricane Idalia made landfall. (MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images)
Members of the national guard drive through a flooded road following Hurricane Idalia near Horseshoe Beach, Florida, US, on Wednesday, August 30, 2023. (Christian Monterrosa/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Members of the national guard drive through a flooded road following Hurricane Idalia near Horseshoe Beach, Florida, US, on Wednesday, August 30, 2023. (Christian Monterrosa/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Casey DeSantis shared a photo on X of a 100-year-old oak tree that fell on the Governor's Mansion in the wake of Hurricane Idalia. (Photo: Casey DeSantis/X)
Casey DeSantis shared a photo on X of a 100-year-old oak tree that fell on the Governor's Mansion in the wake of Hurricane Idalia. (Photo: Casey DeSantis/X)
Makatla Ritchter wades through flood waters after having to evacuate her home when the flood waters from Hurricane Idalia inundated it on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Hurricane Idalia is hitting the Big Bend area of Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Makatla Ritchter wades through flood waters after having to evacuate her home when the flood waters from Hurricane Idalia inundated it on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Hurricane Idalia is hitting the Big Bend area of Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Ken Kruse looks out at the flood waters from Hurricane Idalia surrounding his apartment complex on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Hurricane Idalia is hitting the Big Bend area of Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Ken Kruse looks out at the flood waters from Hurricane Idalia surrounding his apartment complex on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Hurricane Idalia is hitting the Big Bend area of Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
The Sarasota Police Department said the majority of the Sarasota Bayfront is closed due to flooding Wednesday morning. (Sarasota Police Department)
The Sarasota Police Department said the majority of the Sarasota Bayfront is closed due to flooding Wednesday morning. (Sarasota Police Department)
Roads in Sanibel, Florida, were experiencing heavy flooding and debris coverage Wednesday morning. (Sanibel Fire Rescue District / Facebook)
Roads in Sanibel, Florida, were experiencing heavy flooding and debris coverage Wednesday morning. (Sanibel Fire Rescue District / Facebook)
The roadway was cleared outside Troll Music in Venice, Florida, on Wednesday morning as Hurricane Idalia moved onshore. (Venice, Florida Municipal Government / Facebook)
The roadway was cleared outside Troll Music in Venice, Florida, on Wednesday morning as Hurricane Idalia moved onshore. (Venice, Florida Municipal Government / Facebook)
TRACKING IDALIA: CITIES IN SOUTH GEORGIA REPORTING DAMAGE
Scott Kahn and his family were flying from south Florida to Israel. But their flight got delayed six hours.
"We made the best of it, no question," Kahn said. "It would’ve been frustrating. But we got take the kids to the world of Coca-Cola, which was a lot of fun. I’d rather get back home on time, but I’d rather have a smooth flight and be six hours late than have a miserable flight and get there on time."
Delta Airlines is letting affected passengers rebook for free.
FOX Weather contributed to this report.
