Tropical Cyclone Statement Issued
From
Yankeetown
Sent
Tue, Sep 24 @ 11:30pm
Description
Tropical Cyclone Statement issued September 24 at 11:12PM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
HLSTBW
This product covers West Central and Southwest Florida
**HELENE EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN RAPIDLY OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO**
NEW INFORMATION
---------------
* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- None
* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- A Storm Surge Warning, Tropical Storm Warning, and Hurricane
Watch are in effect for Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Manatee,
Coastal Sarasota, and Pinellas
- A Storm Surge Warning and Hurricane Warning are in effect for
Coastal Citrus, Coastal Hernando, Coastal Levy, and Coastal
Pasco
- A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Inland Levy
- A Tropical Storm Warning and Hurricane Watch are in effect for
Inland Citrus, Inland Hernando, and Inland Pasco
- A Storm Surge Warning and Tropical Storm Warning are in effect
for Coastal Charlotte and Coastal Lee
- A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for DeSoto, Hardee,
Highlands, Inland Charlotte, Inland Hillsborough, Inland Lee,
Inland Manatee, Inland Sarasota, Polk, and Sumter
* STORM INFORMATION:
- About 660 miles south-southwest of Cedar Key FL or about 560
miles south-southwest of Mouth of Tampa Bay FL
- 19.9N 85.5W
- Storm Intensity 60 mph
- Movement West-northwest or 300 degrees at 10 mph
SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------
Tropical Storm Helene centered in the northwest Caribbean Sea is
forecast to lift into the southern Gulf of Mexico Wednesday and
continue to strengthen through Thursday as it moves northeast through
the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Widespread tropical impacts are expected
across West-Central and Southwest Florida beginning Wednesday night
and Thursday.
* Storm Surge - Life threatening storm surge is expected Thursday and
Friday. Potential peak surge amounts are 10 to 15 feet from
Chassahowitzka to Suwannee River, 6 to 10 feet from Anclote River to
Chassahowitzka, 5 to 8 feet from Middle of Longboat Key to Anclote
River, 4 to 7 feet from Englewood to Middle of Longboat Key, and 3 to
5 feet from Bonita Beach to Englewood.
* Rain - Flooding rain threat will run from Wednesday evening through
Thursday evening with rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches with locally
higher amounts up to 10 inches possible.
* Wind - Hurricane and tropical storm force winds will be possible
Wednesday night and Thursday with the highest probabilities along the
coast.
* Tornadoes - Isolated tornadoes are possible Thursday, especially
across the Nature Coast and Tampa Bay area.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------
* SURGE:
Protect against life-threatening surge having possible catastrophic
impacts across Nature Coast and portions West-Central Florida.
Potential impacts in this area include:
- Widespread deep inundation, with storm surge flooding greatly
accentuated by powerful battering waves. Structural damage to
buildings, with many washing away. Damage greatly compounded
from considerable floating debris. Locations may be
uninhabitable for an extended period.
- Near-shore escape routes and secondary roads washed out or
severely flooded. Flood control systems and barriers may become
stressed.
- Extreme beach erosion. New shoreline cuts possible.
- Massive damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers.
Numerous small craft broken away from moorings with many lifted
onshore and stranded.
Elsewhere across West Central and Southwest Florida, little to no
impact is anticipated.
* WIND:
Protect against life-threatening wind having possible devastating
impacts across the Nature Coast and coastal portions of west-central
and southwest Florida. Potential impacts in this area include:
- Structural damage to sturdy buildings, some with complete roof
and wall failures. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Damage
greatly accentuated by large airborne projectiles. Locations
may be uninhabitable for weeks or months.
- Numerous large trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and
roadway signs blown over.
- Many roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban
or heavily wooded places. Many bridges, causeways, and access
routes impassable.
- Widespread power and communications outages.
Also, protect against life-threatening wind having possible limited
to extensive impacts across inland portions of west-central and southwest
Florida.
* FLOODING RAIN:
Protect against life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible
extensive impacts across Nature Coast. Potential impacts include:
- Major rainfall flooding may prompt many evacuations and rescues.
- Rivers and tributaries may rapidly overflow their banks in
multiple places. Small streams, creeks, canals, and ditches may
become dangerous rivers. Flood control systems and barriers may
become stressed.
- Flood waters can enter many structures within multiple
communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed
away. Many places where flood waters may cover escape routes.
Streets and parking lots become rivers of moving water with
underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become dangerous.
Many road and bridge closures with some weakened or washed out.
Protect against dangerous rainfall flooding having possible
significant impacts across West-Central and Southwest Florida.
* TORNADOES:
Protect against a tornado event having possible limited impacts
across West Central and Southwest Florida. Potential impacts include:
- The occurrence of isolated tornadoes can hinder the execution
of emergency plans during tropical events.
- A few places may experience tornado damage, along with power
and communications disruptions.
- Locations could realize roofs peeled off buildings, chimneys
toppled, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned,
large tree tops and branches snapped off, shallow-rooted trees
knocked over, moving vehicles blown off roads, and boats pulled
from moorings.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
----------------------------------
* EVACUATIONS:
Follow the advice of local officials.
* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:
Now is the time to complete all preparations to protect life and
property in accordance with your emergency plan. Ensure you are in a
safe location before the onset of strong winds or possible flooding.
If you are relocating to safe shelter, leave as early as possible.
Allow extra time to reach your destination. Many roads and bridges
will be closed once strong winds arrive. Check the latest weather
forecast before departing and drive with caution.
Failure to adequately shelter may result in serious injury or loss of
life. Always heed the advice of local officials and comply with any
orders that are issued. Remember, during the storm 9 1 1 Emergency
Services may not be able to immediately respond if conditions are
unsafe. This should be a big factor in your decision making.
Storm surge is the leading killer associated with tropical storms and
hurricanes! Make sure you are in a safe area away from the surge
zone. Even if you are not in a surge-prone area, you could find
yourself cutoff by flood waters during and after the storm. Heed
evacuation orders issued by the local authorities.
Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather radio or local news outlets
for official storm information. Be ready to adapt to possible changes
to the forecast. Ensure you have multiple ways to receive weather
warnings.
* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
- For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov
- For information on creating an emergency plan see getagameplan.org
- For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org
NEXT UPDATE
-----------
The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather
Service in Tampa Bay Ruskin FL around 6 AM EDT, or sooner if
conditions warrant.
This notification was posted by Yankeetown. Yankeetown is solely responsible for this notification and unless specifically indicated, no other community or individual utilizing Savvy Citizen is sponsoring, responsible for, or endorsing this notification.
