Tropical Storm Hermine triggers Florida state of emergency

A hurricane watch has been issued for the Florida Gulf Coast from the Anclote River Indian Pass.

Rains of 4 to 10 inches were possible along the coasts of Georgia and the Carolinas by Sunday.

Heavy rainfall is expected across much of Florida as a tropical depression looms in the Gulf of Mexico.

A hurricane watch is in effect from Florida’s Anclote River just northwest of Tampa to Indian Pass in the Florida Panhandle and a tropical storm warning is in effect elsewhere from the Anclote River to the Walton Bay County line.

Latest track has it moving north then turning east Wednesday evening. Scott declared a state of emergency for 42 counties, which covers all of Central Florida, except for Osceola County.

Heavy rain is also concerning Brown. Due to the inland threat of flooding rains and tropical storm force winds make sure to continue to check back on the updated track of the storm. On the west side, a tropical storm warning is in effect now to Destin, Fla. I suspect they issued due to a few models increasing to hurricane strength and a blow up of convection more to the North of the suspected center.

In North Carolina, Jennifer Scarborough is the manager of a marina in Hatteras.

As of 2am EDT Friday, Hermine was centred about 56.3km southeast of Tallahassee, Florida, and was moving north-northeast near 22.5 miles per hour. That depression is expected to become a tropical storm overnight and threatens to bring wind and rain to eastern North Carolina.

The depression was centered about 75 miles (120 kilometers) east-southeast of Cape Hatteras on Wednesday morning.

“Strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and the depression is expected to become a tropical storm later today, and could be near hurricane strength by the time landfall occurs”, the National Hurricane Center warns.

As of 5 a.m. EDT Friday, Hermine was weakening as it moved into southern Georgia, the Hurricane Center said.

As of 5 p.m. ET, Hermine was about 325 south-southwest of Apalachicola with sustained winds of 45 miles per hour, upgrading its status from a tropical depression earlier Wednesday and granting its name.

In nearby Frisco, whipped-up waves attracted out-of-town surfers. Chance of rain is 70 percent with rainfall amounts between three-quarters inch and one inch possible.

The storm is not expected to make landfall after it leaves Florida, however.