In the Pacific, Category 1 Hurricane Madeline churned toward Hawaii, promising to bring heavy rain and high winds.
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In Florida, Scott declared an emergency in 42 of the state’s 67 counties in advance of an expected tropical storm that could make landfall on the north-central Gulf Coast between late Thursday and early Friday.
The tropical storm warning covers an area from Anclote River to the Walton County-Bay County line.
This year, government forecasters predicted a near-normal season with 10 to 16 tropical storms, of which four to eight would be hurricanes.
Governor Scott said, “Last night, hurricane and tropical storm watches were issued along Florida’s Gulf Coast from Pasco County to Gulf County”.
Regardless, as the forecast path from the National Hurricane Center shows, this system will whisked away from the East Coast, with no other land mass as a threat.
The depression was centered about 135 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, as of Wednesday midday.
Rain bands will continue to drench Florida’s Gulf Coast on and off throughout Wednesday and into Friday, the heaviest being along the coast, 10Weather WTSP meteorologist Bobby Deskins said. If it attains hurricane strength before landfall, it would be the first hurricane to hit Florida since October 2005.
The storm was forecast to strengthen to 65 miles per hour winds by 2 a.m. Friday – the intensity it is predicted to sustain when it makes landfall.
“Heavy rain associated with this tropical moisture will likely start Wednesday and totals of 5 to 8 or more inches are possible by Thursday evening”.
The depression has been meandering overnight, but is expected to begin a northward or northeastward motion later today.
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Center spokesman Dennis Feltgen said a hurricane watch is issued even if the official forecast is only for a tropical storm, if there is enough uncertainty in the future of a system that will be in an environment favorable for development. Large waves also attracted surfers from out of town.
