Tropical weather system spares North Carolina’s Outer Banks

Heavy rain caused some local street flooding in South Florida on Tuesday, and more is forecast for Wednesday. A tropical weather system off the coast of North Carolina’s Outer Banks is expected to strengthen in the next day, bringing winds up to 45 miles per hour and heavy rains that could flood low-lying areas.

For Florida’s watch area, tropical storm conditions are expected to first reach the coast within the warning area on Thursday afternoon and hurricane conditions are possible over portions of the hurricane watch area beginning Thursday afternoon.

Rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches are expected across portions of the southeastern United States from southeast Georgia, central to eastern SC and eastern North Carolina, with local amounts of 10 inches possible through Saturday.

Here’s a breakdown of what storms are coming in the near future.

This storm, which has now emerged in the Gulf of Mexico, could be the bigger threat to the Southeast this week. Thirty-nine miles per hour is the threshold for being a tropical storm and attaining a name, in this case, Hermine (pronounced “her-MEEN”).

Upper level wind shear is lessening, allowing the system to strengthen over the warm waters of the Gulf.

“A north-northeastward motion at a faster forward speed is expected to begin later today, and a turn toward the northeast is forecast tonight”.

TD#9 has had issues organizing for days, but it’s now over the Gulf of Mexico, which is like a sauna, and will likely become a strengthening tropical storm as it approaches the Big Bend of Florida along the Gulf Coast later tomorrow. Flooding is also possible, especially in the coastal areas. The hurricane watch is from the Anclote River to Indian Pass.

Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in Florida Wednesday morning.

“We’re not anxious about the storm so much unless they say there’s something to worry about”, Joe Walker said.

“Interests along the United States east coast from northern Florida through the Carolinas should monitor the progress of this system”.

Everyone throughout or area, including residents into South Georgia, should be watching for updates on the tropical storm through Thursday and into early Friday morning.

Tropical Depression 8 is now moving away from the North Carolina coast and Hurricane Gaston is by far the strongest storm in the Atlantic this season so far. Fortunately it has changed direction and is beginning to head back out into the open Atlantic. The system will make its closest pass to us on Thursday with tropical storm winds also possible.

Much of the area will see the risk for locally heavy rainfall.

The tropical storm warning covers an area from Anclote River to the Walton County-Bay County line.

He says heavy rains could lead to flooding and large surf could damage coastlines.

In the tropics, Hurricanes Lester and Madeline march towards Hawaii.