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Tag: Citrus County

  • The latest: Status of Bay area school districts

    The latest: Status of Bay area school districts

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    TAMPA, Fla. — School districts through the Bay area are evaluating their situations for resuming operations in the wake of Hurricane Milton.

    Here’s a list of the latest information with Bay area districts:


    HILLSBOROUGH: Due to Hurricane Milton’s impacts to our community, all Hillsborough County Public Schools and district offices will be closed through Friday, October 11.

    Should we need to extend our school closures due to the effects of the storm, we will inform all families and district employees.

    All extracurricular activities, athletics, and HOST are canceled through Friday, as well. 

    PINELLAS: District operations staff have assessed and begun repairs to damages on our school sites. Currently, there are nearly 80 school sites with no power.

    At this time, no decision has been made about the date for school reopening as it is dependent upon the stability of the power grid.

    All updates will be posted on the district’s weather page, www.pcsb.org/weather, and on social media, including the district’s Facebook, X,  Instagram, and LinkedIn accounts.

    PASCO: All Schools and District Offices will now be closed to the public, and all events and activities will be cancelled through Friday, October 11, 2024. Please prepare for the storm and check the district website and social media for updates. Please visit our Weather Updates page for more information.

    POLK: Polk Schools continue to monitor the storm’s impacts on our area. PCPS schools and offices will be closed through Friday, October 11. At this time, no decision has been made about Monday, October 14. Updates will be provided over the weekend.

    MANATEE:  Schools will remain closed to students Thursday, October 10 and Friday, October 11, 2024. All athletic events and other extra-curricular activities are also canceled through Friday, October 11, 2024.

    Once we have an assessment of our schools, we will update you on plans to resume classes for students.

    HERNANDO: Hernando schools and district offices will remain closed Friday, Oct. 11. A decision regarding upcoming openings, events or activities will be made soon.

    CITRUS: The Citrus County School District has been working closely with the Citrus EOC to prepare for the impact of Hurricane Milton.

    Schools will be closed through Friday, October 11th. However, all District Offices will be reopened Friday, October 11th.

    We will keep you updated as we receive additional information about this system’s impact on our schools.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Duke Energy issues estimated power restoration times

    Duke Energy issues estimated power restoration times

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – With 16,000 resources and many crews working day and night, Duke Energy Florida has released estimated times of restoration for customers impacted by Hurricane Milton.

    While some customers will have their power restored earlier than others, the majority of affected homes and businesses are expected to be restored by the following days/times:                                                                             

    • Sunday, Oct. 13 by 11:59 p.m. / Brevard, Citrus, Hernando, Highlands, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia Counties
       
    • Tuesday, Oct. 15 by 11:59 p.m. / Pasco and Pinellas Counties 
    • TRACK POWER OUTAGE NUMBERS ACROSS THE BAY AREA

    “We want to alleviate our customers’ concerns and reassure them that they’ll have their power back on within days – not weeks,” said Todd Fountain, Duke Energy Florida storm director. “We thank our team for their hard work and commitment to meeting these estimated times of restoration, our local officials and first responders for their support and our customers for their continued patience.”

    Customers can report power outages four different ways:

    • Visit duke-energy.com on a desktop computer or mobile device.
       
    • Use the Duke Energy mobile app (download from a smartphone via Apple Store or Google Play).
       
    • Text OUT to 57801 (standard text and data charges may apply).
       
    • Call the automated outage reporting system at 800.228.8485.

    Additionally, customers who cannot receive power as a result of damage to the property’s meter base, breaker panel or customer-owned electrical wiring should contact their local municipalities for guidance. Inspections may be required after repairs are complete.   

    The most up-to-date information about power outages can be accessed on Duke Energy’s Outage Map or by enrolling in Outage Alerts.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Send us your Milton weather photos

    Send us your Milton weather photos

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    Share your weather photos with us and you may see them on our website or in our newscast.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • FDOT: Bay area bridges will be closed at some point Wednesday

    FDOT: Bay area bridges will be closed at some point Wednesday

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — As of Wednesday morning, all four of the major bridges in the Tampa Bay area remain open.

    That will change Wednesday as the Florida Department of Transportation said it expects to close all of the bridges as weather conditions deteriorate today ahead of Hurricane Milton.

    What You Need To Know

    • Wednesday a.m., all four of the major bridges in the Tampa Bay area remain open

    • FDOT says Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Howard Frankland Bridge, Gandy Bridge and Courtney Campbell Causeway will all close sometime today

    • Officials said there will be enough people and equipment on site to close the bridges quickly once the call is made

    The Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Howard Frankland Bridge, Gandy Bridge and Courtney Campbell Causeway are all anticipated to close this afternoon.

    Traffic officials said there will be enough people and equipment on site to close the bridges quickly once the call is made.

    That’s different from what happened during Hurricane Helene last month.

    Traffic, though light, was still on the Howard Frankland a few hours before the peak of Helene impacted the area (see below). Drivers that crossed the bridge braved crashing waves that swamped the roadway.

    FDOT officials said they made the call to close around 3 in the afternoon, but it took another 45 minutes to actually shut the bridge down.

     

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Tornado Watches issued for southern parts of Bay area

    Tornado Watches issued for southern parts of Bay area

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    BE WEATHER AWARE

    A warning remains in place for southeastern Polk County until 4:30 p.m.

    A TORNADO WATCH has been issued until 9 p.m. for PINELLAS, HILLSBOROUGH, MANATEE, PASCO and HERNANDO counties. Some of the rain bands over the next many hours will have the potential for rotation. 

    Watch Spectrum Bay News 9 LIVE anytime on our website and our app for the latest updates. Scroll down for the latest important weather information and the latest watches and warnings for the Tampa Bay area.

    We encourage everyone to download the Spectrum news app and enable weather alerts to be notified when severe weather is in your area. Be sure to check in with Klystron 9 throughout the day.

    Manage your weather notifications in the Spectrum Bay News 9 app.

    LATEST WATCHES/WARNINGS

    Click/tap on the warning areas on the Klystron 9 map for more information on watches/warnings. Turn on the Klystron 9 layer to track storms. More watches/warnings information below the map.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Crystal River homeowners get a dose of déjà vu as Milton lumbers toward Florida

    Crystal River homeowners get a dose of déjà vu as Milton lumbers toward Florida

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    CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. — For residents staying put during Hurricane Milton, many are making preparations around their home for the second time in two weeks.

    What You Need To Know

    • A dose of hurricane déjà vu is sweeping homeowners in Tampa Bay

    • Hurricane Milton will be the second storm to hit the area in as many weeks
    • In Citrus County, homeowners could be seen at sandbagging sites on Monday filling bags and making preparations for the storm’s expected landfall on Wednesday


    As Hurricane Milton continues its path toward Florida, many residents in Citrus County are getting prepped, even while Hurricane Helene is still fresh on their minds.

    “Here we are again, two weeks later,” resident Jonathan McMurrer said, noting the sense of déjà vu he was feeling.

    “You would walk down here and it would literally be up to our chest,” he said while walking in his backyard. “It was deep out here, that’s for sure.”

    With that flooding still fresh in his mind, he has been working to shore up his property before Hurricane Milton hits.

    “We weren’t prepared last storm,” said McMurrer. “We thought we would be fine with all the sandbags and everything, and, like I said, Mother Nature had other plans — she decided to bring a lot of water with her.

    “So this time, we’re going to try to get everything up — all of the cabinets and everything like that — we’re going to pick them up try to save as much as we can, because that’s all we can do right now.”

    The sandbags McMurrer and his brother gathered in preparation for Hurricane Helene remain on guard at various places around his house. Inside his family’s home, walls have been stripped and the sound of fans can be heard helping dry out any remaining wet areas.

    “Anything and everything that was on ground-level pretty much got ruined,” McMurrer said. “We lost all cabinets, a couple of beds, all of our flooring we had to rip out. We lost our drywall, our insulation, a couple of cars, and her golf cart was lost.”

    Despite the chaotic living space, and with another hurricane on its way, McMurrer said he and his family were remaining positive.

    “It’s Mother Nature, that’s for sure,” he said. “You’re at her beck and call.”

    McMurrer said they have kept their sandbags from Helene, just in case for this storm. Sandbag sites — like the one at Bicentennial Park — will remain open for residents. 

    For a full listing of sandbag sites, visit the Citrus County government website.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Stay informed with Bay News 9 hurricane radio partners

    Stay informed with Bay News 9 hurricane radio partners

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — As Milton approaches the Bay area, staying aware with the latest information will be vital.

    In addition to watching Spectrum Bay News 9, you can stay informed in a variety of ways. 

    As the storm gets closer to the Bay area, we’ll keep you up to date with the latest weather information and watches and warnings for your neighborhood. You can also find storm shelters, county-by-county evacuation maps and an interactive hurricane tracker.

    You can also take the Bay News 9 Weather Experts with you on the Spectrum News app or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

    You can also listen to Bay News 9 on our hurricane radio partners across the Bay area:

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • SHELTERS: Cities, counties opening shelters ahead of Hurricane Milton

    SHELTERS: Cities, counties opening shelters ahead of Hurricane Milton

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    Counties across the Tampa Bay area are opening emergency shelters ahead of Hurricane Milton. We’ll post them below and update the list as we get new information.

    PINELLAS COUNTY

    Pinellas County is opening six emergency shelters in advance of Hurricane Milton. Effective at noon today, Monday, Oct. 7, the following shelters will be open:

    – Largo High School (general population and pet friendly), 410 Missouri Ave. N., Largo
    – Gibbs High School (general population and pet friendly), 850 34th St. S. St. Petersburg
    – Palm Harbor University High School (general population and pet friendly), 1900 Omaha St, Palm Harbor
    – Palm Harbor University High School Bldg. 19 (special needs), 1900 Omaha St., Palm Harbor
    – Dunedin Highland Middle School (special needs), 70 Patricia Ave., Dunedin
    – Oak Grove Middle School (special needs), 1370 S. Belcher Road, Clearwater

    For more information, click here.

    PASCO COUNTY

    Pasco County is opening hurricane shelters for anyone who needs to leave their home ahead of Hurricane Milton and has nowhere else to stay.  All shelters are accepting family pets.The following shelters will open Monday, October 7, 2024, at noon:

    Learn more about what to bring if you’re sheltering with your pet: mypas.co/PetHurricanePrep

    MANATEE COUNTY

    The following locations will be opening emergency shelters Monday afternoon:

    • Mills Elementary School (7200 69th St. E., Palmetto)
    • Miller Elementary School (601 43rd St. W., Bradenton)
    • Myakka Elementary School (37205 Manatee Ave., Myakka City)

    A special needs shelter will also be opening for those who have pre-registered. If you haven’t registered yet, please do so at mymanatee.org/needs.

    HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

    Hillsborough County will open Middleton High School this afternoon as a safe haven in advance of inclement weather for residents who were impacted by Hurricane Helene.

    Middleton High School will open at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, at 4801 N. 22nd St., Tampa, Fla., 33610. The forecast calls for heavy rain and wind on Sunday afternoon through Sunday night.

    Residents who need transportation assistance to Middleton High School should call 833-HC STORM or 833-427-8676 to make arrangements. The storm information and helpline is open until 7 p.m.

    POLK COUNTY

    Based on the current projections and estimated time of Hurricane Milton’s arrival to Polk County, the following public shelters will be open at noon on Tuesday, Oct. 8:

    • Auburndale High School, 1 Bloodhound Trail, Auburndale
    • Spessard Holland Elementary School, 2432 E.F. Griffin Road, Bartow
    • Citrus Ridge Academy, 1775 Sand Mine Road, Davenport
    • Horizons Elementary School, 1700 Forest Lake Dr., Davenport
    • George Jenkins High School, 6000 Lakeland Highlands Road, Lakeland
    • Highlands Grove Elementary, 4510 Lakeland Highlands Road, Lakeland
    • Kathleen High School, 1100 Red Devil Way, Lakeland
    • R. Bruce Wagner Elementary School, 5500 Yates Road, Lakeland
    • Sleepy Hill Elementary School, 2285 Sleepy Hill Road, Lakeland
    • Mulberry Middle School, 500 S.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Mulberry
    • Lake Marion Creek Middle School, 3055 Lake Marion Creek Dr., Poinciana
    • Chain of Lakes Elementary School, 7001 Hwy. 653, Winter Haven
    • Winter Haven High School, 600 6th St. S.E., Winter Haven

    Three pet friendly shelters will also be open noon on Tuesday, Oct. 8.

    They are located at:

    • Haines City High School, 2800 Hornet Dr., Haines City
    • Lake Region High School, 1995 Thunder Road, Eagle Lake
    • Tenoroc High School, 4905 Saddle Creek Road, Lakeland

    Pet owners must bring shot records for their pets, an airline-approved carrying case or crate and pet food.

    Special Needs shelters will also open at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8, for those residents with special and/or medical needs. Special needs shelters are temporary emergency facilities capable of providing care to residents whose medical condition(s) may require the use of electrical equipment, oxygen or dialysis, or individuals with physical, cognitive or medical conditions who may require assistance from medical professionals. Although special needs shelters provide more care than a general shelter, they do not provide the level of care found in a medical facility.

    The Special Needs shelters are located at:

    • FDOH Polk Specialty Care Unit, 1255 Brice Blvd., Bartow
    • Ridge Community High School, 500 W. Orchid Dr., Davenport
    • McKeel Academy, 1810 W. Parker St., Lakeland

    For the most up-to-date information, please monitor your local news media or call the Citizen’s Information Line at (863) 298-7500 (locally) or toll-free 866-661-0228.

    HERNANDO COUNTY

    No shelter information at this time.

    CITRUS COUNTY

    No shelter information at this time.

     

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • COUNTY BY COUNTY: What to expect around Tampa Bay

    COUNTY BY COUNTY: What to expect around Tampa Bay

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    Our Spectrum Bay News 9 Weather Experts have broken down, by county, what to watch for as Milton gets closer to landfall. For the latest forecast updates, you can check here.

    Citrus

    Hurricane Watch (Peak Winds: until Noon Thursday)

    Winds: 75 mph, gusts to 90

    Flood Watch (until Thursday AM)

    Rainfall: 5-10 inches, locally higher amounts possible

    Storm Surge Watch

    The potential for up to 5-10 feet above ground somewhere within surge prone areas if the storm makes landfall north of Citrus County, surge is not expected if it hits south. 

    Hernando

    Hurricane Watch Winds: 75 mph, gusts to 90

    Flood Watch (until Thursday AM)

    Rainfall: 5-10 inches, locally higher amounts possible

    Storm Surge Watch

    The potential for up to 5-10 feet above ground somewhere within surge prone areas if the storm makes landfall north of Hernando County, surge is not expected if it hits south. 

    Pasco

    Hurricane Watch (Peak Winds: until midday Thursday)

    Winds: 80 mph, gusts to 100

    Flood Watch until Thursday morning

    Rainfall: 5-10 inches, locally higher amounts possible

    Storm Surge Watch

    The potential for up to 5-10 feet above ground somewhere within surge prone areas if the storm makes landfall north of Pasco County, surge is not expected if it hits south. 

    Pinellas

    Hurricane Watch (Peak Winds: until midday Thursday)

    Winds: 80 mph, gusts to 110

    Flood Watch until Thursday morning

    Rainfall: 5-10 inches, locally higher amounts possible

    Storm Surge Watch

    The potential for up to 8-12 feet above ground somewhere within surge prone areas if the storm makes landfall in the county or north, surge is not expected if it hits south of Tampa Bay.

    Hillsborough

    Hurricane Watch (Peak Winds: until midday Thursday)

    Winds: 70 mph, gusts to 90

    Flood Watch until Thursday

    Rainfall: 5-10 inches, locally higher amounts possible

    Storm Surge Watch

    The potential for up to 8-12 feet above ground somewhere within surge prone areas if the storm makes landfall in the county or north, surge is not expected if it hits south of Tampa Bay.

    Manatee

    Hurricane Watch (Peak Winds: until noon Thursday)

    Winds: 75 mph, gusts to 100

    Flood Watch until Thursday Morning

    Rainfall: 3-6 inches, locally higher amounts possible

    Storm Surge Watch

    The potential for up to 8-12 feet above ground somewhere within surge prone areas.

    Polk

    Hurricane Watch (Peak Winds: until Thursday afternoon)

    Winds: 50 mph, gusts to 75

    Flood Watch until Thursday AM

    Rainfall: 3-6 inches, locally higher amounts possible

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Kyle Hanson

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  • PSTA to run fare-free to help with evacuations due to Milton

    PSTA to run fare-free to help with evacuations due to Milton

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    TAMPA, Fla. — The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority announced on Sunday that they will continue to run until winds reach 40 mph. All routes will also be fare-free to help assist with the evacuation process.

    The administration building will be open on Monday, but will close Tuesday and Wednesday.

    In the event of a hurricane, the PSTA will work alongside the Pinellas County Emergency Management team to provide transportation to a list of the shelters. There are also several locations where passengers can transfer and ride to a shelter with available space. The transfer locations are: Park Street Terminal, Grand Central Station, Westfield Countryside Mall, Tyrone Square Mall and Pinellas Park Transit Center.

    Pets are permitted on evacuation busses as long as they are in a pet carrier. If you are going to a shelter that accepts pets, you must pre-register with the Pinellas County Animal Services by calling 727-582-2600.

    If you need transportation to a special needs shelter, you must pre-register with Pinellas County Emergency Management by calling 727-464-3800. 


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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Monitor real-time traffic in Tampa Bay due to Milton

    Monitor real-time traffic in Tampa Bay due to Milton

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    TAMPA, Fla. — With the forecast showing Milton impacting the west coast of Florida, many people will be taking to the roads to prepare and or evacuate.

    Use our real-time traffic map below to check on the status of the roads near you as you continue to prep for the storm.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Where to find gas for Milton preps

    Where to find gas for Milton preps

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    Many Floridians are preparing for Milton, and soon many will be searching for gas as the storm gets closer.

    With the GasBuddy Outage Tracker, drivers can search for gas stations nearby, as well as filter by the following criteria:

    • Has Fuel & Power
    • Has No Power
    • Limited Fuel Options
    • Has No Fuel & Power

    Click/Tap on the image below to locate gas stations near you and check their status. For the best results, be sure to share you location. You can also track outages on your phone by downloading the GasBuddy app for Android or iOS.

    Click/Tap on the image for the Gas Buddy Tracker

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Duke Energy Florida Estimates Times of Restoration for Pinellas County’s Barrier Islands

    Duke Energy Florida Estimates Times of Restoration for Pinellas County’s Barrier Islands

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    Duke Energy Florida issued Pinellas County estimated times of restoration for the barrier islands following Hurricane Helene.

    All customers in these communities who are capable of receiving power will be restored by 11:59pm on Saturday, October 5th, with the majority restored by 11:59pm on Friday, October 4th.

    “We understand that having power is necessary for our customers to be able to rebuild and get back on their feet,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “Our crews continue to work tirelessly to meet our estimated times of restoration in order to help our customers and their families move forward with recovery.”

    The following are the estimated times of restoration from Duke Energy Florida for Pinellas County:

    North Barrier Island

    • Clearwater Beach – Friday, October 4th at 11:59pm
    • Belleair Beach – Friday, October 4th at 11:59pm
    • Belleair Shores – Friday, October 4th at 11:59pm
    • Indian Rocks Beach – Friday, October 4th at 11:59pm
    • Town of Indian Shores – Friday, October 4th at 11:59pm

    Middle Barrier Island  

    • Town of Redington Beach – Friday, October 4th at 11:59pm
    • Town of N. Redington Beach – Friday, October 4th at 11:59pm
    • Town of Redington Shores – Friday, October 4th at 11:59pm
    • Madeira Beach – Saturday, October 5th at 11:59pm

    South Barrier Island

    • Treasure Island – Saturday, October 5th at 11:59pm
    • St. Pete Beach – Friday, October 4th at 11:59pm

    “We will continue to be easily accessible and maintain an open line of communication with our customers even after their power is restored,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “After such extensive destruction, many communities face a lengthy and trying recovery process, but we are here to help and will be with them every step of the way.”

    Duke Energy Florida has mobilized customer care units in severely impacted areas. Company representatives will be onsite to answer questions and provide account assistance. They will be available in the following locations on Friday, October 4th:

    Madeira Beach City Hall

    • 300 Municipal Drive, Madeira Beach, FL 33708
    • 8am-5pm

    Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber

    • 6990 Gulf Boulevard, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
    • 8am-5pm

    Sheraton Sand Key Resort

    • 1160 Gulf Boulevard, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767
    • 8am-5pm

    Daystar Life Center of Citrus County

    • 6751 W. Gulf to Lake Highway, Crystal River, FL 34429
    • 9am-2pm

    Customers who have damage to the electrical service that serves their homes or businesses should contact Duke Energy Florida. An onsite visit will be conducted to determine if there is a need to de-energize the property for safety. The customer will then need to contact a licensed electrician to make repairs, followed by the local municipality to schedule an inspection. After the inspection is complete, the customer must contact Duke Energy Florida to request restoration of service.

    Customers who need power to rebuild their homes or businesses should contact their local municipality to relay their intent and obtain a 911 address for the property. Then, the customer will need to request that Duke Energy Florida establish electric service on a temporary pole on the property. After an electrician installs a temporary service pole and meter base, the customer must apply to the city or county for an electrical inspection and ensure the municipality sends the inspection to Duke Energy Florida to have electric service connected.

    Customers who need assistance paying their utility bills can learn more about programs that may be available to help online or calling 800-700-8744.

    For individual estimated times of restoration, customers can use Duke Energy’s Outage Map.

    Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.

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  • MacRae’s of Homosassa still recovering one week on from Hurricane Helene

    MacRae’s of Homosassa still recovering one week on from Hurricane Helene

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    HOMOSASSA, Fla. — Recovery continues up and down the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Helene swept thru last week.

    What You Need To Know

    • Recovery is continuing in parts of Citrus County after Hurricane Helene swept thru the Gulf last week

    • MacRae’s of Homosassa, a historical staple, has seen its fair share of storms in its 100 years of existence, but nothing could prepare it for Helene
    • Areas across the property — from its tackle and bait shop, to its motel rooms — saw significant flooding


    That includes some of the more historical sites in the area. MacRae’s of Homosassa has been a staple in Citrus County for 100 years and has seen its fair share of storms in the past. But nothing that could prepare it for Helene.

    Situated along the Homosassa River, MacRae’s of Homosassa has looked a bit different since Hurricane Helene hit.

    “We have been really lucky, in my opinion, to still have the buildings that we have, because the water came in so high and so fast,” said Executive Manager Rebecca MacRae. “We’ve really never seen anything like that here.”

    MacRae said plenty of work is being done on the property — especially tractors pulling debris from the property’s motel, which saw the most significant damage.

    “We do have to replace the skirting on the building that got taken off,” MacRae said. “The A/Cs that are under here — they got destroyed through these rooms on the side, but we’ve already repaired those, which is great. Gotta stay cool in this Florida heat.”

    But for a business — and family — that have called this area home for the last 100 years, a storm like Helene is nothing new.

    “We have so much experience here with flooding because we are kind of on a low piece of property on the Homosassa River,” MacRae said. “There is some measures we can take here that help. Not always enough, but something you just have to take.”

    The recovery has been quick, MacRae said, but there is still quite a ways to go. She said the the work has been made easier by help from some friends.

    “You can see the piles of things destroyed in people’s homes growing every day, which is really sad,” MacRae said. “But we come together to try to come back stronger and better. There’s a lot of love that goes around at times like these, because that’s really all you can give.”

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • National Weather Service releases report on Helene

    National Weather Service releases report on Helene

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    The National Weather Service in Ruskin released its report on Helene’s impact to the area. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The highest surge in our area was seen in Citrus County

    • Most of the Tampa Bay area saw 4 to 8 feet of surge

    • Highest wind gusts were just above 70 mph

    • Rainfall totals ranged from 1 to 4 inches


    These are the county by county reports released by National Weather Service meteorologists. 

    Citrus County

    Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 50 to 60 mph, with a maximum gust of 54 mph near Lecanto at 9:45 PM EST on September 26. Rainfall ranged from 1 to 3 inches, with a maximum total of 2.66 inches near Homosassa. A peak water level of 7.70 feet above MHHW (mean high tide) was measured at the mouth of Crystal River at 2:30 AM EST on September 27, surpassing the previous site record of 5.99 feet above MHHW during Hurricane Idalia on August 30, 2023. Peak water levels measured elsewhere along coastal Citrus County generally ranged from 5 to 8 feet. 

    Hernando County

    Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 60 to 70 mph, with a maximum gust of 66 mph at Weeki Wachee at 7:28 PM EST on September 26. Rainfall ranged from 2 to 4 inches, with a maximum total of 3.44 inches near North Brooksville. A peak water level of 8.58 feet above MHHW was measured at the mouth of the Chassahowitzka River at 1:15 AM EST on September 27. Peak water levels estimated elsewhere along coastal Hernando County generally ranged from 5 to 8 feet. 

    Pasco County

    Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 50 to 60 mph, with a maximum gust of 56 mph near New Port Richey at 7:10 PM EST on September 26. Rainfall ranged from 1 to 3 inches, with a maximum total of 2.94 inches near Holiday. A peak water level of 5.04 feet above MHHW was measured at New Port Richey at 9:00 PM EST on September 26, before the gauge stopped reporting. Peak water levels estimated elsewhere along coastal Pasco County generally ranged from 2 to 5 feet above MHHW. 

    Pinellas County

    Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 65 to 75 mph, with a maximum gust of 73 mph at Clearwater Beach at 7:36 PM EST on September 26. Rainfall ranged from 3 to 5 inches, with a maximum total of 4.38 inches observed near Crystal Beach. A peak water level of 6.67 feet above MHHW was measured at Clearwater Beach at 10:00 PM EST on September 26, surpassing the previous site record of 4.02 feet above MHHW set during the 1993 Storm of the Century on March 13, 1993. St. Petersburg also set a new record of 6.31 feet above MHHW, surpassing the previous site record of 3.97.

    Hillsborough County

    Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 60 to 70 mph, with a maximum gust of 68 mph near Tampa International Airport at 7:40 PM EST on September 26. Rainfall ranged from 2 to 5 inches, with a maximum total of 4.55 inches near Temple Terrace. A peak water level of 7.2 feet above MHHW was measured at East Bay at 11:48 PM EST on September 26, surpassing the previous site record of 4.56 feet above MHHW set during Hurricane Idalia on August 30, 2023. Old Port Tampa also set a new record at 6.86 feet above MHHW at 11:36 PM EST on September 26, surpassing the previous site record of 4.18 feet above MHHW set during Hurricane Idalia on August 30, 2023. Peak water levels measured elsewhere along coastal Hillsborough County generally ranged from 5 to 8 feet above MHHW.

    Manatee County

    Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 65 to 75 mph, with a maximum gust of 74 mph at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport at 6:19 PM EST on September 26. Rainfall ranged from 2 to 4 inches, with a maximum total of 3.26 inches near Desoto Lakes. A peak water level of 6.04 feet above MHHW was measured at Port Manatee at 11:18 PM EST on September 26, surpassing the previous site record of 3.69 feet above MHHW set during Hurricane Idalia on August 30, 2023. Peak water levels estimated elsewhere along coastal Manatee County generally ranged from 4 to 7 feet above MHHW.

    Polk County

    Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 50 to 60 mph, with a maximum gust of 59 mph near Fort Meade at 5:56 PM EST on September 26. Rainfall ranged from 1 to 2 inches, with a maximum total of 1.88 inches near Lakeland.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Kyle Hanson

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  • NTSB investigating fatal Citrus County plane crash

    NTSB investigating fatal Citrus County plane crash

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    CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — The National Transportation Safety Board is in Citrus County Wednesday to investigate a fatal small plane crash.

    According to the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, one person was killed Tuesday just after 5:30 p.m. when a small plane crashed near Fort Island Trail Park in Crystal River. 

    Officials said the pilot, whose named has not been released, was the lone occupant of the aircraft. 

    Citrus Fire Rescue responded to the scene after the Beechcraft B55 Baron twin-engine plane went down in a marsh area near the park’s boat ramp.

    In addition to the NTSB, the FAA also is investigating the crash.

    The sheriff’s office is asking he public to avoid the area during the investigation.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • School damage from Helene prompts shift for some students

    School damage from Helene prompts shift for some students

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    CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — A bit of normalcy returned Tuesday for some Citrus County students, teachers and school staff.

    Both Lecanto Primary School and Crystal River High School opened their doors to their neighboring schools and made Crystal River Primary School and Crystal River Middle School students and staff feel at home.

    MORE INFORMATION: Citrus County Schools

    Crystal River middle and high schools sustained damage during Hurricane Helene.

    The primary school had significant water damage and remains unable to house its Pre-K through fifth grade students.

    The middle school campus was deemed not safe due to damage.

    School administrators are asking parents to contact their schools for information.

    Meanwhile. to help with the recovery efforts, the Citrus County Education Foundation has established a Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief Fund. 

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Bay area early voting and vote-by-mail dates

    Bay area early voting and vote-by-mail dates

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Election Day is drawing closer.

    But Bay area residents will have time before then to voice their picks for president, as well as other local and national figures and important statewide amendments.

    Some voters can cast their ballots early to avoid long lines at the polls.

    Here’s a county-by-county look at the early voting dates and times around the Bay area.

    Vote By Mail: County officials will begin mailing ballots to overseas and absent military Vote By Mail requesters on Sept. 20. Ballots will be mailed to domestic Vote By Mail requesters on Oct. 3. Voted ballots must be back to the elections office no later than 7 p.m. Election Day to be counted.

    Early Voting: October 21 – November 3, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

    Early Voting locations

    Election Day: November 5, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

    Vote By Mail

    Early Voting Dates/Times: October 21 – November 3, Daily, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

    Early Voting Locations:

    • Countryside Recreation Center – 2640 Sabal Springs Dr., Clearwater, FL 33761
    • Gulfport Neighborhood Center – 1617 49th St. S., Gulfport, FL 33707
    • J.W. Cate Recreation Center – 5801 22nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33710
    • Supervisor of Elections Office – Election Service Center – 13001 Starkey Rd., Starkey Lakes Corporate Center, Largo, FL 33773
    • Supervisor of Elections Office – County Building – 501 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33701
    • Supervisor of Elections Office – Pinellas County Courthouse – 315 Court St., Room 117, Clearwater, FL 33756 (Voter parking spots will be designated in courthouse parking lots)
    • The Centre of Palm Harbor – 1500 16th St., Palm Harbor, FL 34683

    Vote By Mail: To avoid lines and vote from the convenience of your home, you may request a Vote-by-Mail ballot. Call the elections’ office at 800-851-8754, or use our online request form at least twelve (12) days prior to the election for your ballot. Requests must include the voter’s date of birth, address, last 4 digits of SSN or the voter’s Florida Driver License number/Florida ID number. Be sure to call early enough so there is time for you to receive your ballot and return it by mail.

    Early Voting Dates/Times: Monday, Oct. 21 – Saturday, Nov. 2

    Early Voting locations

    Vote By Mail: Mail Ballots for the November 5th Presidential Election are available. To request a Mail Ballot, click here.

    Early voting: October 21st – November 3rd Hours: 7am – 7pm, daily

    2024 Early Voting Sites: (click here for a map of all locations)

    Vote by mail: Vote by mail offers a convenient, time-saving, secure voting method. Just call the office at (941) 741-3823, or click here to request your vote by mail ballot.

    Early voting: Early Voting at designated early voting sites beginning at least 10 days prior to an election that contains state or federal races. Click here to see dates, times and locations.

    Dates: Monday, October 21, 2024 through Saturday, November 2, 2024

    Hours: 8:30 am to 6:30 pm daily

    Early voting locations

    Vote by mail: The last day to request a Vote-by-Mail ballot for the November 5, 2024 General Election is October 24, 2024 by 5:00pm.

    Early voting: Monday, Oct. 21 through Nov. 2

    Early Voting is not held at your polling place. Do not go to your polling place to vote early.

    Go to one of the Early Vote Locations to vote early.

    Click here to view Early Voting Locations

    Vote by Mail: Vote by Mail ballots are an option offered for registered voters who wish to vote in the comfort of their home or those who may be away from Citrus County during an election.

    Early voting: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2

    Locations:

    • Central Ridge Community Center – 77 Civic Circle, Beverly HIlls, FL, 34465
    • Suervisor of Elections Office – 1500 N. Meadowcrest Blvd, Crystal River, FL, 34429
    • Homosassa Public Library – 4100 S. Grandmarch Ave, Homosassa, FL, 34446
    • Inverness City Hall – 212 W. Main St., Inverness, FL, 34450
    • Central Ridge Library – 425 W. Roosevelt Blvd, Beverly Hills, FL, 34465

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Residents in Crystal River working to clean-up after Hurricane Helene

    Residents in Crystal River working to clean-up after Hurricane Helene

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    CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. — Clean-up continues after Hurricane Helene left its mark on the Tampa Bay area.

    What You Need To Know

    • Businesses in Downtown Crystal River are cleaning up days after Hurricane Helene swept thru the Gulf

    • Helene caused ripples of storm surge, flooding many homes and businesses along Florida’s coast
    • Despite sandbagging outside her store, Salty Girls Beach Shop, owner Deanna Boyer was cleaning up her store after feet of flooded waters swept thru her store


    For areas up to the north, like Citrus County, many were impacted by flooding caused by storm surge.

    “I walked out the door and just started bawling. What else can you do?” Deanna Boyer said.

    Since 1964, Deanna Boyer has called Crystal River home. She has worked at Salty Girls Beach Shop for the last five years.

    “We got about two feet more than what I’ve ever seen in my lifetime,” said Boyer.

    The swimwear and beach supply store that’s billed as a “one stop shop for all your salty needs” took a hit during Hurricane Helene. As the sound of generators sound outside its walls. And possessions that once stood inside now sit out at the curb.

    “We have a 4,000 square foot building here and we got about an inch and a half of mud inside,” said Boyer. “So not only did we have to remove all of our appliances and displays and inventory, now we have to spend a few days pressure washing several times, then bleaching and the sanitizing. It’s a process. It definitely takes some time and manpower.”

    Sandbags can also be seen sitting outside doors of the shop. Placed ahead of Thursday’s storm, the bags were not strong enough to withhold Helene’s surge.

    “Flood barrier, sandbags- we were ready to go, or so we thought,” says Boyer. “But a vehicle turned the corner and blew our front doors out. You can’t plan on things like that, you just do the best you can. So it’s failed but every storm we learn something new.”

    But amidst all the wreckage and clean-up, Boyer is remaining positive as her friends help her salvage what is left. Picking up the pieces as she looks to open the store once again. The “beach vibe” here still strong.

    “We’re not going anywhere. This is paradise,” she said. “And if this is the price we have to pay to live here, then we’re going to pay it.”

    Boyer said her focus is getting the building as clean as possible. Once she can do that and get it empty, they will repair the internal damage like the dry wall and electric.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Central Florida Defendant Sentenced in Attempted Murder Case

    Central Florida Defendant Sentenced in Attempted Murder Case

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    A Central Florida defendant was sentenced in an attempted murder case after shooting juveniles riding on an ATV.

    This month, 66-year-old Michael Regalski was sentenced to 65 years in the Florida Department of Corrections after jurors found him guilty back in August.

    Regalski was convicted of three counts of Attempted Second Degree Murder with a Firearm, one count of Shooting at an Occupied Vehicle, and one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence. He was sentenced to 25 years on the first count, 20 years on the second, and 20 years on the third to be served consecutively.

    “Today’s sentencing reaffirms the justice sought for the victims and their families involved in this case,” said Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson. “The defendant’s dangerous actions in response to a minor annoyance led to a tragic and senseless act of violence that he will now have 65 years to reflect upon.”

    The charges stem from an incident back in April of 2023, in which Citrus County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call for service regarding a shooting that had occurred.

    When officials arrived on scene, they located an adult victim, along with two juvenile victims on an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV). The victims indicated they were riding on the vehicle in the area when they heard two loud noises and pulled over, thinking the vehicle was malfunctioning.

    While stopped, one of the juveniles indicated they felt pain in their lower abdomen, and upon reaching down immediately observed they were bleeding. CCSO officials and other medical first responders were able to stabilize the juvenile, who was then airlifted to a hospital for treatment.

    CCSO’s Major Crimes Detective Roscoe Watts responded to the scene to investigate. During this time, he made contact with Regalski, whose home was just south of where the incident occurred. According to Regalski, he had seen the ATV with the three victims pass by his property previously while he was outside his garage. He said he had prior issues with the utility vehicles passing by his property loudly at all hours of the night.

    Regalski further admitted when he saw the vehicle passing by his property the last time, he fired his Glock 40-caliber handgun at the vehicle in an attempt to deter the rides from driving by his property. When questioned as to what he did after firing at the utility vehicle, Regalski stated he secured his firearm before entering his residence to wash his clothes and shower.

    He then told Detective Watts after he showered, he viewed his home’s video surveillance camera footage of the incident. He claimed nothing was captured on the footage, but still decided to erase the footage after viewing it.

    Assistant State Attorneys Kaitlyn Mannis and Blake Shore prosecuted this case.

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