Maximum sustained winds are around 40 miles per hour… with higher gusts.
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The center of Julia is five miles west of Jacksonville and sixty miles south of Brunswick, Ga. The forecast track for Hurricane Orlene takes this system slowly north northwestward.
Julia has the distinction of being possibly the first storm to form over land in Florida.
Through Thursday, widespread rainfall totals over two inches are likely from northeast Florida to coastal SC. As the storm moves north, heavy rainfall and rapidly changing weather conditions are to be expected from 11 a.m.to 8 p.m. each day. Tuesday evening, the Storm Prediction Center issued a marginal threat for severe weather today in Northeast Florida. The strongest wind gusts from Julia will shift to the coastal areas of Georgia and SC through Wednesday. Tropical Storm Ian is producing gale force winds and could strengthen, according to the National Hurricane Center.
A tropical storm warning was in effect Wednesday morning for Ponte Vera Beach north to the Altamaha Sound in Georgia.
“As we know in Florida, storms can quickly develop, bringing severe weather to our state in a moment’s notice”, Scott said in a news release.
“A tropical low pressure system over northeastern Florida has now become Tropical Storm Julia”, AccuWeather Meteorologist Jordan Root said. Some of the rain could be locally heavy, especially in the afternoon hours when there may be some enhancement from sea breeze interactions.
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There is a low possibility that a weak tornado or two could form into early Wednesday in eastern Florida or southeastern Georgia. Some areas, especially south, will see heavy rain and the potential for flooding before daybreak Wednesday.
