Tropical Cyclone Statement Issued
From
Yankeetown
Sent
Wed, Sep 25 @ 5:25pm
Description
Tropical Cyclone Statement issued September 25 at 5:21PM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
HLSTBW
This product covers West Central and Southwest Florida
**HURRICANE HELENE HAS ENTERED THE SOUTHERN GULF OF MEXICO AND EXPECTED
TO STRENGTHEN RAPIDLY OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS**
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 510 miles south-southwest of Cedar Key FL or about 420
miles southwest of Mouth of Tampa Bay FL
- 22.5N 86.6W
- Storm Intensity 85 mph
- Movement North or 355 degrees at 12 mph
SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------
Hurricane Helene is centered in the Southern Gulf of Mexico just north of
the Yucatan Pensilua. It is forecasted to strengthen through tonight and Thursday
as it moves northeast through the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Widespread tropical impacts
are expected across West-Central and Southwest Florida beginning tonight 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 this evening through this
weekend with rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches with locally higher
amounts up to 10 inches possible. Even after Helene pulls away,
additional rounds of heavy rainfall are expected this weekend.
* Wind - Hurricane and tropical storm force winds will be possible
tonight through Thursday night with the highest probabilities along
the coast.
* Tornadoes - Isolated tornadoes are possible Thursday across the
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 extensive
impacts across West-Central and Southwest Florida. Potential impacts in
this area include:
- Considerable roof damage to sturdy buildings, with some having
window, door, and garage door failures leading to structural
damage. Mobile homes severely damaged, with some destroyed.
Damage accentuated by airborne projectiles. Locations may be
uninhabitable for weeks.
- Many large trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and
roadway signs blown over.
- Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban
or heavily wooded places. Several bridges, causeways, and
access routes impassable.
- Large areas with power and communications outages.
Also, protect against dangerous wind having possible limited to
significant 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 limited
to significant impacts across the rest of West-Central and Southwest
Florida.
* TORNADOES:
Protect against a dangerous tornado event having possible significant
impacts across Nature Coast and West-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 boats tossed about. Dangerous
projectiles can add to the toll.
Protect against a tornado event having possible limited impacts
across southwest Florida.
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.
Rapidly rising flood waters are deadly. If you are in a flood-prone
area, consider moving to higher ground. Never drive through a flooded
roadway. Remember, turn around don't drown!
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 12 AM, 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.
