Florida braced for tropical storm
A huge stretch of Florida’s Atlantic coast was under a tropical storm warning today as a new system formed just offshore and threatened to dump up to 15 inches of rain in parts of the state.
The tropical depression could strengthen into Tropical Storm Ophelia by tomorrow, which prompted the warning covering a 120 mile stretch from north of Jupiter to Titusville, according to the National Hurricane Center.
It could bring tropical storm conditions of winds of at least 39mph to the state by tomorrow morning.
“The primary concern is very heavy rains,” hurricane specialist Richard Pasch said. Five to 10 inches were expected over the next few days, with some isolated areas possibly getting 15 inches.
At 11am EDT (3pm Irish Time), the depression had top sustained winds of about 30mph and was centred about 180 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral. It wasn’t moving, but it should start heading north-northwest later tonight.
Two other storms were out in the open ocean today as the busy hurricane season continues.
Tropical Storm Nate intensified south of Bermuda, while Hurricane Maria weakened on its way to the colder waters of the north Atlantic.
Nate, the 14th named storm of the season, was centred about 275 miles south-southwest of Bermuda with top sustained winds near 60mph. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said it could reach hurricane strength, with winds of at least 74mph by tomorrow.
It wasn’t moving, though it was expected to eventually make a turn to the northeast, forecasters said.
“Perhaps by the end of the work week it could be posing a threat to Bermuda, but not the US,” hurricane specialist Stacy Stewart said.
Maria peaked late on Monday as a Category 3 hurricane with top wind speeds at 115mph. By 11am EDT (3pm Irish Time), it was centred about 545 miles east-northeast of Bermuda with winds near 100mph, forecasters said.
The hurricane was only a threat to shipping interests as it moved north-northeast, forecasters said.
Maria is the fifth hurricane of the Atlantic hurricane season. The season began June 1 and ends on November 30.
Peak storm activity typically occurs from the end of August through mid-September.
Florida has been hit by six hurricanes since August 2004.
