Tropical rainstorm to strengthen into hurricane, targets US Gulf Coast
A tropical rainstorm is currently developing over the Caribbean Sea. The storm is expected to strengthen into a hurricane and travel north, targeting the U.S. Gulf Coast before the end of the week.
For the second time this hurricane season, a powerful storm has set its sights on the Big Bend area of Florida, this time threatening to bring life-threatening storm surge and potentially Category-3-force winds of up to 115 mph by the time it makes landfall Thursday.
“Everyone along the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend region needs to be prepared for hurricane impacts,” said AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva, adding the system has the potential to become the strongest hurricane landfall in the U.S. so far this season.
Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency Monday afternoon for 41 of Florida’s 67 counties, including all of the Florida Panhandle. The state of emergency affects Alachua, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Okaloosa, Pasco, Pinellas, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington counties.
As of Tuesday morning, Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 had yet to develop into a tropical storm. But forecasters warn that the potential for life-threatening storm surge and damaging hurricane-force winds along the coast of the Florida Panhandle and Florida’s west gulf coast in the Big Bend area is increasing, the same region where Hurricane Debby made landfall last month.
Where is the Big Bend region in Florida?
Florida’s “Big Bend” is in the curve of Florida’s peninsula around the Gulf of Mexico. The area includes Jefferson, Taylor, Dixie and Levy counties and is composed largely of “untamed coastal landscape,” according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
“The Big Bend is a lush blend of salt marshes, tidal swamps, deep woodlands and an occasional slice of sandy beach,” the FWC said.
Other significant Florida cities and towns in the area include Apalachicola, St. Marks, Carrabelle, Perry, Steinhatchee, Cedar Key and Florida’s capital city, Tallahassee, which is a little more than 20 miles from the Gulf Coast.
Spaghetti models: Latest forecasts on where Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine could make Florida landfallWatches, warnings issued across Florida as Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine approaches
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John Gallas, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida, contributed to this article.
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Publish date : 2024-09-23 13:00:00
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