“The whole storm thing just kind of threw us off and I’m hoping it doesn’t hit us and I’m hoping (my flight) is not delayed”, Anna Molina said.
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A former Orlando native, Breyfogle experienced the devastating Florida storms of 2004 and 2005, but she’s still wary of the potential danger of Hermine.
The center also expanded a tropical storm watch from Georgia into SC. Storm surges and tides could push 1 to 8 feet of water into normally dry coastal areas, from Destin on the Panhandle to Tampa in west-central Florida, the hurricane center said. The city, which is located roughly 35 miles from the coast, has not had a direct hit by hurricane in 30 years.
Plus, Florida residents are being warned about a unsafe storm surge and tide that will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded.
Tropical Storm Hermine is set to hit the northern Gulf Coast of Florida Thursday, and it could dampen the weekend here.
NHC says that hurricane conditions are expected to reach the coast within the warning area beginning tonight.
Hermine is expected to produce storm total rainfall accumulations of 5 to 10 inches over portions of northwest Florida and southern Georgia through Friday, with possible isolated maximum amounts of 20 inches.
In South Carolina, Friday night lights will be Thursday night lights in many areas.
Local authorities are monitoring the situation; and encouraging residents to be prepared and safe this week and through the storm season. The storm’s effects should have moved on for Monday’s Labor Day holiday, leaving mostly sunny skies and a high in the low 80s.
Beach forecasts will be worse, however, with more chances of rain and wind, as well as choppy surf throughout the weekend.
Residents in some low-lying communities in Florida were being asked to flee Thursday as the storm approached. It had gained traction and strength overnight Wednesday, now packing maximum sustained winds of 70 miles per hour.
Earlier this month, the season’s second hurricane, Earl, left more than 45 people dead in Mexico.
Tropical Storm Hermine is heading for the north Florida Gulf coast and forecasters say life-threatening storm surge and flooding rains are expected. And on the East Coast, a tropical storm warning was issued for an area that extended from Marineland, Florida, northward to the South Santee River in SC.
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The entire area is also under a Flood Watch from Thursday afternoon to Friday night.
