A tropical storm warning has been issued Wednesday morning for a section of Florida’s Gulf Coast as a tropical depression approaches.
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As of the 1 p.m. Wednesday update, the storm is moving north at only 2 miles per hour. It said the storm was a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of about 80 miles per hour (130 kph). A hurricane watch has been issued for Hawaii County. By declaring a state of emergency in advance of this storm, we are ensuring that state, regional and local agencies can work together to meet the needs of our communities.
Tropical Storm Warnings are up for several inland Big Bend counties, and have expanded into southwest and south-central Georgia.
“It is important not to focus on the forecast landfall point of this system”, the hurricane center said Tuesday evening.
Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency Wednesday as he launched a review of the state’s preparations for the tropical depression that was expected to hit the Gulf Coast. It also calls for up to the same amount along the coastal Carolinas as the storm tracks up the East Coast on Friday into Saturday morning. Drier air and strong upper atmosphere winds are weakening Hurricane Madeline as it a. That area is also under a hurricane watch.
Maximum sustained winds are near 35 miles per hour, with higher gusts. Packing heavy rain, the storm could also push risky storm surges inland if it arrives at high tide.
National Hurricane Center forecasters said a few of the computer models had upgraded tropical depression nine to hurricane strength near the coast so the decision was made to issue a hurricane watch.
All of Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties are now under a Tropical Storm Warning. An outside chance for the storm to reach minimal hurricane level exists before probable landfall. These impacts will come via the placement of tropical moisture positioned squarely over the state all compliments of the system.
Florida residents are being told to expect up to 20 inches of rain and possible tornadoes.
Heavy rainfall is expected across much of Florida as a tropical depression looms in the Gulf of Mexico.
The WTXL ABC 27 Storm Team is on duty throughout the course of this tropical weather situation.
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“We’re going to see a lot of rain, we’re going to see five to 10 inches of rain, potentially 15 inches of rain”, Scott said after receiving a storm update at the state Emergency Operations Center.
