The storm is expected to reach Florida late Thursday, when it could be hurricane strength – 74 miles per hour or higher sustained winds.
Advertisement
A hurricane watch and tropical storm warning were in effect in Florida for the area west of Mexico Beach to Destin and another area stretching from the Suwannee to Anclote rivers, the NHC said.
Tropical storm force winds were extending 140 miles to the east of Hermine’s center this morning, and much of Northwest Florida is under a tropical storm warning.
Although Robeson was not under a tropical storm watch this morning, nearby Bladen, Columbus, Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender counties in Southeast North Carolina and for Georgetown, Horry, Florence, Marion, and Williamsburg counties in northeast SC were.
It’s been almost 11 years since a hurricane made landfall in Florida: Since Hurricane Wilma hit the state in 2005, not a single hurricane has made landfall along the Florida coastline.
Tallahassee is also bracing for the storm, as all classes at Florida State University, Florida A&M University and Tallahassee Community College have been cancelled for the rest of the week.
There’s a good possibility the Labor Day weekend may be washout for Staten Islanders, thanks to Tropical Storm Hermine (pronounced Her-MEEN), whose remains could bring heavy rain and winds our way for Sunday into Monday.
The last hurricane to strike Florida was Wilma in 2005, which made landfall in the USA the same year as Katrina.
MIAMI (AP) – Florida’s Gulf coast braced Thursday for a hit from Tropical Storm Hermine, which forecasters said could make landfall as a hurricane.
Right now, our in-house computer models are forecasting between 4 to 8 inches of rain in our area by early Saturday morning, with isolated higher amounts.
Advertisement
“The most important thing we all must put in our minds is that this is life threatening”, Florida Gov. Rick Scott told reporters at the Florida Emergency Management Center. The strongest winds will not hit the Southwest Florida region, however, Farrell said. The storm is likely to be felt the strongest across the Big Bend of Florida, which is relatively less populated than points west and inland. The storm is expected to flood streets in the Charleston area which can see high tide flooding even on sunny days.
