Torrential downpours associated with Tropical Depression Nine are pummeling the Tampa Bay area this morning, creating a treacherous commute as the system – which forecasters say is expected to become a tropical storm this morning – continues its northeasterly trek toward Florida’s coast.
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The storm has begun a move to the north at 2 miles per hour and a Tropical Storm Watch for the Gulf Coast has now been upgraded to a Tropical Storm Warning.
Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours and the depression could become a tropical storm.
A tropical storm watch is in effect for the southern half of Georgia’s 100-mile coast and a stretch of north Florida’s Atlantic region.
While parts of the Gulf Coast near Tampa saw heavy rain Wednesday morning, Florida Gov. Rick Scott said people should be prepared for the worst.
Tropical Depression Eight will pull away from eastern North Carolina on Wednesday.
In the Pacific, Category 1 Hurricane Madeline churned toward Hawaii, promising to bring heavy rain and high winds.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Andrew Hagan says the tropical depression that’s expected to become a tropical storm later Wednesday is keeping the atmosphere more moist than usual.
As of the 5 a.m. hurricane center update, tropical depression nine was about 405 miles south-southwest of Apalachicola and about 425 miles southwest of Tampa.
“Madeline is going to pass dangerously close to the Big Island of Hawaii late today into Thursday morning Hawaiian time”, Karins said early Wednesday. Nearby, large waves crashed in the increasingly angry-looking surf.
Marion County is under a tropical storm watch, and a flood watch has been issued for Sumter County.
But the hurricane center on Tuesday took the unusual step of issuing hurricane and tropical storm watches for portions of Florida’s Gulf coast.
Lonka said the storm in the Gulf was forecast to move across northern Florida later this week toward the Atlantic Ocean, but likely to stay south of North Carolina. Highest winds were still 35 miles per hour.
A lone vehicle waits to be loaded on a ferry to Ocracoke Island in Hatteras, N.C., Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. If heavy rain happens to coincide with high tide cycles there will be a higher risk of flash flooding, especially in downtown Charleston.
This year, government forecasters predicted a near-normal season with 10 to 16 tropical storms, of which four to eight would be hurricanes. Category 4 Hurricane Lester followed roughly Madeline’s path and toward the archipelago.
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Although the track guidance is in good agreement on this scenario, the model envelope has shifted slightly westward this cycle, and the NHC forecast track has been nudged in that direction.
