With a potential hurricane bearing down on Florida, nervous residents keep an eye on the tropics as the disturbance develops, with the potential to bring severe weather to the state.
Florida could be about to face-off against a possible major hurricane this week, with potential tropical cyclone nine expected to develop into a tropical depression and "rapidly intensify" into Hurricane Helene in the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall somewhere over Florida.
According to the National Hurricane Center, potential Hurricane Helene, which would be the eighth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season could bring severe weather to Florida regardless of where it makes landfall.
Here in Central Florida impacts could include tropical storm-force winds, heavy rain, and perhaps tornadoes. Ahead of a possible Hurricane, a Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for Orange, Seminole, Lake, and Osceola counties
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued the watch early Tuesday morning, September 24, 2024.
Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine is currently 120 miles west-southwest of the Grand Cayman Islands and 240 miles south-southeast of the western tip of Cuba.
It's traveling NW at 8 mph with sustained winds of 35 mph. A northwestward motion is expected later today and tonight, followed by a faster northward to north-northeastward motion on Wednesday and Thursday.
The National Hurricane Center commented, "On the forecast track, the center of the system is forecast to move across the northwestern Caribbean Sea through tonight, and then over the eastern Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday and Thursday."
The NHC predicts that the tropical system will strengthen into a Category 2 hurricane, with maximum winds of 110 mph, as it tracks off Tampa Bay, although some models are predicting it could reach major hurricane status (Category 3 or higher).
The majority of computer models are showing Central Florida avoiding a direct hit, with the system targeting the Florida Panhandle or Big Bend area, but changes are highly possible once the system develops and gains a defined center.
As the potential hurricane develops, bringing the threat of a major disaster, Florida Gov. DeSantis is urging Floridians to prepare for the storm, declaring a state of emergency for 41 of the states 67 counties.
DeSantis commented, “We will continue to monitor the storm’s path and keep Floridians updated,” he said. “Now is the time to make an emergency plan, know your evacuation zone, and be as prepared as possible for the storm.”
The state of emergency is in effect for the following counties:
Alachua, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Okaloosa, Pasco, Pinellas, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington.
As the storm progresses we will keep you updated with the latest information.
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