Hurricane
Tropical storm warning: Emily aims for Florida
The Tampa Bay area is under tropical storm warning as the fifth named storm officially forms off the Gulf Coast of Florida Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Tropical Storm Emily is about 45 miles west of the Tampa Bay area and is moving to east at 8 mph, according to a Monday morning forecast.
A tropical storm warning has been issued along the coast from the Anclote River at Tarpon Springs to Bonita Beach. Tropical storm conditions are expected within hours.
Later Monday, the storm is expected to travel toward central Florida. Between two and four inches of rain is expected to hit the Tampa Bay area south to Naples, with up to eight inches of rain in some parts and less rain for central and south Florida.
According to the National Weather Service, a flood watch is in effect for Manatee, Sarasota, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Lee and Highlands counties. A flood warning is in effect for the Little Manatee River in Wimauma, the Manatee River near Myakka Head, the Myakka River at Myakka River State Park and Horse Creek near Arcadia, according to NWS.
There is slight potential for flood evacuations, damage to trees and power outages in the Manatee County area, NWS said. Winds between 20 mph and 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph are expected. There is also a high risk of rip currents from Pinellas to Lee counties until Monday night. If you find yourself caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shore until you’re out of the current, then swim back to land.
Gov. Rick Scott urged residents to be prepared for tropical conditions as officials continued to monitor the depression’s movements.
“As we know in Florida, storms can quickly develop, bringing severe weather to our state in a moment’s notice,” Scott said in a press release. “Last night, this storm posed no threat to Florida. Now, after rapidly intensifying overnight, a tropical depression will impact the Tampa area and Floridians must prepare for impacts to Southwest Florida.”
Scott advised residents to visit FLGetAPlan.com to be prepared for any weather disaster.
As all eyes are on the Gulf Coast, another disturbance is being monitored in the Atlantic, according to the center. As of early Monday, there’s a 10 percent chance of it forming over the next five days.
Hannah Morse: 941-745-7055, @mannahhorse
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