Tropical Cyclone Statement Issued
From
City of Lake Helen
Sent
Wed, Sep 25 @ 11:35am
Description
Tropical Cyclone Statement issued September 25 at 11:15AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
HLSMLB
This product covers East Central Florida
**TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS EXPECTED ON THURSDAY**
**PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE COMPLETED TODAY**
NEW INFORMATION
---------------
* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- None
* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Coastal Indian River,
Coastal Martin, Coastal Saint Lucie, Coastal Volusia, Inland
Indian River, Inland Martin, Inland Northern Brevard, Inland
Saint Lucie, Inland Southern Brevard, Inland Volusia, Mainland
Northern Brevard, Mainland Southern Brevard, Northern Brevard
Barrier Islands, Northern Lake, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola,
Seminole, Southern Brevard Barrier Islands, and Southern Lake
* STORM INFORMATION:
- About 570 miles southwest of Orlando FL
- 21.6N 86.3W
- Storm Intensity 80 mph
- Movement North-northwest or 330 degrees at 10 mph
SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------
Hurricane Helene is located around 45 miles northeast of Cancun late
this morning and is forecast to move northward into the Gulf of
Mexico later today. Helene is expected to continue to strengthen
into a Major Hurricane while moving north-northeastward across the
eastern Gulf of Mexico through Thursday. The storm is forecast to
make landfall near Florida's eastern Panhandle or Big Bend on
Thursday evening.
Tropical storm force winds are expected to encompass a large area to
the east of Helene's center. Tropical Storm Warnings remain in
effect for all of east central Florida, as well as the adjacent
Atlantic waters. Frequent tropical storm force gusts will be
possible across the area Thursday into Thursday evening. The
potential for gusts up to 60 mph will exist, particularly northwest
of I-4, along the east central Florida coast, near the intracoastal
waterways, and in vicinity of Lake Okeechobee.
In addition to strong wind gusts, a few to several tornadoes embedded
in rain bands are possible late tonight through Thursday.
Outer rain bands are forecast to develop and move northward today
with increasing frequency, especially as the system makes its
closest approach from tonight into Thursday. Locally higher rainfall
totals will result from rain bands repeatedly moving over the same
locations. Generally, 1 to 3 inches of total rainfall are forecast
area-wide, with locally higher amounts of up to 6 inches possible
through Thursday. These rainfall amounts will be capable of
producing flooding in low-lying and urban areas, especially in areas
which have already received heavy rainfall this month.
Along the coast, increasing, battering surf from late tonight
through Thursday night will cause dangerous beach conditions. Run-up
to the dune line and sea walls will result in beach erosion. Impacts
will be greatest during the Thursday afternoon high tide, occurring
between 3 PM and 5 PM. Marine conditions will become dangerous
and small craft operators should remain in port.
Do not let your guard down. This will be a very large storm and
impacts will be experienced far from the center of the storm.
Efforts to protect life and property should now be underway and be
completed by this afternoon. Make sure you have a hurricane kit and
plan in place. Any eastward shifts in the forecast track would
increase the potential for additional impacts locally, so continue
to monitor the latest forecasts from the National Hurricane Center
and National Weather Service in Melbourne, Florida.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------
* WIND:
Protect against hazardous wind having possible limited impacts across
East Central Florida. Potential impacts include:
- Damage to porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored
mobile homes. Unsecured lightweight objects blown about.
- Many large tree limbs broken off. A few trees snapped or
uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are
shallow rooted. Some fences and roadway signs blown over.
- A few roads impassable from debris, particularly within urban
or heavily wooded places. Hazardous driving conditions on
bridges and other elevated roadways.
- Scattered power and communications outages.
* TORNADOES:
Protect against a dangerous tornado event having possible significant
impacts across much of East Central Florida. Potential impacts
include:
- The occurrence of scattered tornadoes can hinder the execution
of emergency plans during tropical events.
- Several places may experience tornado damage with a few spots
of considerable damage, power loss, and communications failures.
- Locations could realize roofs torn off frame houses, mobile
homes demolished, boxcars overturned, large trees snapped or
uprooted, vehicles tumbled, and small boats tossed about.
Dangerous projectiles can add to the toll.
Protect against a tornado event having possible limited impacts
across the Treasure Coast and near Lake Okeechobee.
* FLOODING RAIN:
Protect against dangerous rainfall flooding having possible
significant impacts across inland portions of east central Florida.
Potential impacts include:
- Moderate rainfall flooding may prompt several evacuations and
rescues.
- Rivers and tributaries may quickly become swollen with swifter
currents and overspill their banks in a few places, especially
in usually vulnerable spots. Small streams, creeks, canals, and
ditches overflow.
- Flood waters can enter some structures or weaken foundations.
Several places may experience expanded areas of rapid
inundation at underpasses, low-lying spots, and poor drainage
areas. Some streets and parking lots take on moving water as
storm drains and retention ponds overflow. Driving conditions
become hazardous. Some road and bridge closures.
Prepare for locally hazardous rainfall flooding having possible
limited impacts across the remainder of east central Florida.
* SURGE:
Protect against locally hazardous surge having possible limited
impacts mainly across Volusia County. Potential impacts in this area
include:
- Localized inundation with storm surge flooding mainly along
immediate shorelines and in low-lying spots, or in areas
farther inland near where higher surge waters move ashore.
- Sections of near-shore roads and parking lots become overspread
with surge water. Driving conditions dangerous in places where
surge water covers the road.
- Moderate beach erosion. Heavy surf also breaching dunes, mainly
in usually vulnerable locations. Strong rip currents.
- Minor to locally moderate damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks,
and piers. A few small craft broken away from moorings.
Elsewhere across East Central Florida, little to no impact is
anticipated.
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 a visitor, be sure to know the name of the city or town in
which you are staying and the name of the county in which it resides.
Listen for these locations in local news updates. Pay attention for
instructions from 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 Melbourne FL around 6 PM EDT, or sooner if conditions
warrant.
This notification was posted by City of Lake Helen. City of Lake Helen 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.
