Tropical Cyclone Statement Issued
From
Yankeetown
Sent
Wed, Sep 25 @ 11:35pm
Description
Tropical Cyclone Statement issued September 25 at 11:28PM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
HLSTBW
This product covers West Central and Southwest Florida
**HURRICANE HELENE CONTINUES TO RAPIDLY STRENGTHEN IN THE SOUTHERN
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 470 miles south-southwest of Cedar Key FL or about 390
miles southwest of Mouth of Tampa Bay FL
- 23.1N 86.6W
- Storm Intensity 85 mph
- Movement North or 360 degrees at 9 mph
SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------
Hurricane Helene is centered in the Southern Gulf of Mexico north of
the Yucatan Peninsula. It is forecasted to rapidly strengthen
through Thursday as the storm moves north to northeast with an
increasing foward speed, evenutally making landfall in the Florida
Big Bend Region. Widespread impacts are expected across West-Central
and Southwest Florida beginning early Thursday and lasting through
Friday morning.
* Storm Surge - Life threatening storm surge is expected Thursday
into Friday. Potential peak surge amounts are 10 to 15 feet from
Chassahowitzka to Suwannee River, 8 to 12 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.
* Flooding 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
Thursday and 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 the Nature Coast, West-Central Florida, and Southwest
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.
* WIND:
Protect against life-threatening wind having possible extensive impacts
across the Nature Coast, West-Central Florida, 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.
* FLOODING RAIN:
Protect against life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible
extensive impacts across he Nature Coast, West-Central Florida, and
Southwest Florida. 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.
* TORNADOES:
Protect against a dangerous tornado event having possible significant
impacts across he Nature Coast, West-Central Florida, and Southwest
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.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
----------------------------------
* EVACUATIONS:
Follow the advice of local officials.
* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:
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.
Keep cell phones well charged. Cell phone chargers for automobiles
can be helpful, but be aware of your risk for deadly carbon monoxide
poisoning if your car is left idling in a garage or other poorly
ventilated area.
It is important to remain calm, informed, and focused during an
emergency. Be patient and helpful with those you encounter.
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 or parish in which
it resides. Listen for these locations in local news updates. Pay
attention for instructions from local authorities.
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!
If a Tornado Warning is issued for your area, be ready to shelter
quickly, preferably away from windows and in an interior room not
prone to flooding. If driving, scan the roadside for quick shelter
options.
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 6AM 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.
