Tropical Storm Colin kicks up the waters around Davis Island with the Tampa, Fla., skyline in the background Monday, June 6, 2016.
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The storm made landfall in northwest Florida early Tuesday and swept across Georgia on its path to the Atlantic, affecting coastal South and North Carolina, according to the National Weather Service.
The circulation center of Colin moved into Florida’s Big Bend around midnight Tuesday, according to NHC Public Affairs Officer Dennis Feltgen, although its worst weather had affected the area much earlier.
Meanwhile, much of Florida’s western coast was under a tropical storm warning Sunday, with the threat of heavy rains and high wind moving quickly northeast from the Gulf of Mexico.
Homeowners in Gulfport found themselves in the middle of a unsafe situation, with 50 miles per hour winds that toppled trees and damaged several homes.
On June 7, a Tropical Storm Warning was in effect from Surf City to Oregon Inlet, North Carolina.
Tropical depressions have wind speeds of less than 39 mph, while tropical storms carry wind speeds of between 39 mph (63 kph) and 73 mph (117 kph).
A ridge of high pressure will keep afternoon temperatures 5 to 10 degrees above normal for the Southwest.
People check out the waves from Tropical Storm Colin on June 6, 2016 in Venice, Florida.
Scott declared a state of emergency in 34 counties. But it could lead to more mosquitoes.
Scott says he is frustrated because Congress went into recess without approving more money to combat the virus.
The high winds and rain knocked out power to about 10,000 people from Tampa Bay to Jacksonville. Lee County schools will be open on Monday. It’s unknown when it will reopen.
Tropical Storm Colin continues to speed away from the southeastern United States. At that time the center of Post-Tropical Cyclone Colin was located near 36.5 degrees north latitude and 72.2 degrees west longitude. Both ceremonies will take place at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa.
Scott signed the order Monday morning.
Heavy rain is expected, and many coastal communities are providing sandbags for residents in low-lying areas prone to flooding.
“Looking at South Florida, we’re mostly out of the way”, said John Cangialosi, a hurricane specialist with the National Weather Service in Miami-Dade to the Miami Herald.
A tropical storm warning was dropped from north of Wilmington, North Carolina, to Cape Lookout, North Carolina.
First responders in Carteret County said they’re ready, but they want to make sure visitors and residents are too.
The region remains under a flood watch through Thursday at 8 a.m.as the region could receive another 1-3 inches of rain on top of already saturated areas, 10News WTSP meteorologist Bobby Deskins said.
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Tropical Storm Colin is a disorganized mess, but the system is expected to soak most of Florida over the next 24 hours. Some strengthening is forecast later Tuesday.
