A tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico is forecast to strengthen to a tropical storm before making landfall Thursday night or Friday morning along the northwest coast of Florida.
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As of 8 a.m. EDT Friday, Hermine was weakening as it moved into southern Georgia, with maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour, the Hurricane Center said.
A tropical storm warning was issued for portions of the Gulf Coast, and a tropical storm watch was in place for the East Coast of Florida and Georgia for when the storm crosses into the Atlantic. A hurricane watch was previously issued from the Anclote River to Indian Pass and was also extended west to Destin. Earlier in the day, Gov. Rick Scott warned people on the Gulf Coast and in the Tampa Bay area to prepare for 5 to 10 inches of rain and potential tornadoes.
Much of the state could see 5 to 10 inches of rain by then, forecasters said.
Forecasters say they expect that system to turn to the northeast toward Florida and become a tropical storm by sometime Wednesday.
If they do, it would be named either tropical storm Hermine or Ian, depending on whether another depression in the Atlantic off the Carolinas beats it to that strength.
“We are still expecting Tropical Depression 9 to become a tropical storm, but now because of the wind shear it is facing it has not yet been upgraded”, Storm Team 8 Meteorologist Julie Phillips said. These tropical disturbances could bring heavy rain during the final busy weeks of summer, dampening late vacation plans and various interests in the area.
A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area and are typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical storm-force winds.
“It is important not to focus on the forecast landfall point of this system”, the hurricane center said Tuesday evening. Forecasters say it could become a tropical storm later in the day or overnight.
RAINFALL: The depression is expected to produce additional rain accumulations of 2 to 4 inches over western Cuba through today, with maximum storm total amounts up to 20 inches.
Residents on some islands and other low-lying, flood-prone areas in Florida had been urged to clear out Thursday.
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Most coastal areas were expected to have cloudy conditions and possibly thunderstorms through Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, however, and there could be heavy rain in southern sections. As of 5 p.m. EDT, the storm was located about 60 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, N.C., with winds of 35 mph.
