[ad_1]
It will make landfall as a major hurricane.
[ad_2]
Spectrum News Weather Staff
Source link
Tag: Storm Season
-
Tropical Storm Isaac forms in the north-central Atlantic
[ad_1]
Tropical Storm Isaac has formed in the north-central Atlantic Ocean.
Isaac formed in the north-central Atlantic on Wednesday, Sept. 25. It’s the ninth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season .
Isaac has winds of 50 mph and is located about 750 miles east northeast of Bermuda. It is forecasted to become a hurricane by late Friday or early Saturday.
It will pass north of the Azores by late weekend or early next week and does not pose any risk to land.
Here’s a look at the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season so far.
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.
[ad_2]
Spectrum News Weather Staff
Source link -
Crystal River braces for storm surge from Helene a year after Idalia
[ad_1]
CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. — With the floodwater from two recent hurricanes still fresh in everyone’s minds, both residents and business owners in Crystal River are preparing for would could be a significant storm surge.
As of Wednesday morning, storm surge is predicted to reach between 6-10 feet in Citrus County.
Residents living in Zone A are under a mandatory evacuation order and are being asked to leave the area by 2 p.m. Wednesday.
In the heart of Crystal River, restaurants and businesses are heeding the warnings and doing their best to board up and add sandbags to help keep the floodwater out.
Morgan Sundberg, owner of Kane’s Cattle Co, is fearing a repeat situation of what happened to her steakhouse during Hurricane Idalia in 2023.
“If we see 10-15 feet of surge…that’s something this area has never seen before,” she said.
Despite having reinforced doors and flood panels, 2 feet of water inundated her restaurant during Hurricane Idalia. Sundberg had to replace all of her equipment and pull out four feet of the interior wall just to dry everything out. They were closed for 3 months and still haven’t recovered finacially.
“We have flood panels we’ll be installing and we have sandbags and plastic and we’re just doing as much as we can,” she said. “We know 7 1/2 feet made it in here and we’re looking at a substantial increase to that surge, and still expect the unexpected. We’re going to do as much as we can to prepare.”
Emergency officials are asking residents to take the evacuation notice seriously, as rescue crews can’t always get to people in need at the height of a hurricane.
[ad_2]
Angie Angers
Source link -
Helene continues to strengthen; will become a hurricane today
[ad_1]
Tropical Storm Helene continues to strengthen as it moves toward the Gulf of Mexico. It’s expected to become a hurricane soon.
Helene formed in the northwestern Caribbean Sea on Tuesday, Sept. 24. It’s the eighth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
Helene is moving northwest into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico with max winds of 70 mph. It will continue to strengthen as it turns north-northeast.
Conditions are favorable for intensification in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, with warm water and low wind shear in place. It should allow Helene to quickly strengthen, becoming a hurricane sometime today.
It’s possible that Helene could undergo rapid intensification in the eastern Gulf, making landfall as a major hurricane in the Big Bend.
The latest forecast has Helene moving inland Thursday evening or night in the Florida Panhandle.
The risk of life-threatening storm surge and hurricane-force winds begins tonight through Thursday along portions of the Gulf Coast, especially the Florida Panhandle and Florida’s west coast.
Tropical Storm and Hurricane Warnings are in effect across Florida and the Southeast.
Along with hurricane-force winds, dangerous storm surge is expected and Storm Surge Warnings have been issued along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Storm surge will be highest in the Big Bend and Nature Coast area, with inundation up to 12 to 15 feet above ground level.
There is still uncertainty in the specific track and intensity of the storm, but most models are consistent with the storm moving north across the eastern Gulf, making landfall somewhere around Florida’s Big Bend.
Here’s a look at the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season so far.
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.
[ad_2]
Spectrum News Weather Staff
Source link -
Tampa Bay area school closures due to Helene
[ad_1]
TAMPA, Fla. — As a tropical disturbance is set to rapidly intensify in the Gulf of Mexico, school districts in the Tampa Bay area are beginning to announce the cancellation of classes due to forecast impacts.
Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County Public Schools will close all schools Wednesday and Thursday, September 25 and 26, in anticipation of the storm. In addition, all after-school programs, athletics, and extracurricular activities are canceled for this Wednesday and Thursday. No decision about Friday has been made at this time.
Pasco County
In a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, the school system said: “All Pasco County schools are open on Wednesday, September 24. All after-school activities and events are canceled to prepare for the storm and shelter setup. All Pasco County schools and offices will be closed on Thursday, September 25.”
Hernando County
The Hernando County School District was the first to announce closures Monday night, stating in a Facebook post:
“Hernando Schools will close schools and district offices Wednesday and Thursday of this week. All afterschool activities for Wednesday and Thursday will be cancelled. Before and aftercare programs (YMCA and Boys & Girls Club) will not operate on those days.
After we know more about the storm’s potential impact to our community, we will make a determination as to reopening schools on Friday.”
Pinellas County
The school system posted the following on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter: “All PCS and offices will be CLOSED on Wednesday, September 25 through Thursday, September 26. All sports and school activities scheduled for Wednesday, September 25, through Thursday, September 26, are canceled. Sports and activities are scheduled for today as planned.”
Citrus County
Citrus County Schools announced Tuesday that schools will be closed on Thursday, Sept. 26 and Friday, Sept. 27.
The school district said some of its schools will be used as hurricane shelters, and in preparation of the storm, all of its schools will be closed after its scheduled half-day on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
After-school programs and extra-curricular activities are cancelled Sept. 25 – 27. The YMCA before and after-school programs will follow this schedule as well.
Manatee County
Manatee County Schools will be closed Wednesday, Sept. 25 and Thursday, Sept. 26. All school activities, including athletics, are cancelled for Wednesday and Thursday.
A decision regarding Friday will not be made until after the storm passes, shelter operations conclude and teams have had an opportunity to assess the condition of district campuses, the school district said. Get the latest from Manatee County Schools.
Polk County
In a statement, the school system said: “As the storm progresses, we anticipate that Polk County will begin experiencing rain bands and winds between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Wednesday evening. The current forecast indicates that our county may face tropical storm conditions from Thursday morning through 2 a.m. on Friday.
“As a precaution, we have made the decision to close all PCPS schools and offices on Thursday, Sept. 26, and Friday, Sept. 27.
“This decision is driven by our commitment to the safety of our students and staff. The uncertainty surrounding the storm’s trajectory necessitates that we allow our teams adequate time to assess the condition of our campuses and facilities, ensuring they are safe for reopening.
“We plan to resume normal operations on Monday, Sept. 30.”
To read the entire statement, click here.
COLLEGES
Florida State University
Florida State University’s Tallahassee campus will close on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, due to Tropical Storm Helene, which is projected to be upgraded to hurricane by tomorrow.
The closure begins at 7 a.m. ET Wednesday, Sept. 25, and will continue until 11 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 29. The university expects to resume normal business operations at 12:00 a.m. Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. The Marine Lab at Turkey Point will also be closed on these dates. If changes to operations are needed at other campus locations, targeted communications will follow.
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida is continuing to closely monitor Tropical Storm Helene. Based on the latest weather information, the university today announced that all classes are canceled beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 25, and will not resume until Monday, Sept. 30.
In addition, all USF campuses will be closed beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 25 and will remain closed through at least Friday, Sept. 27. As of now, the university expects to reopen campuses and return to normal business operations (without classes) on Saturday, Sept. 28. A final decision on the operating status for Saturday, Sept. 28, will be shared with the university community on Friday, Sept. 27.
Residence halls on the Tampa and Sarasota-Manatee campuses remain open. Residence halls in St. Petersburg will close beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 25. USF St. Petersburg residential students without a place to stay will be transported to the Tampa campus.
USF Health clinical facilities will be open on Wednesday, Sept. 25 and will be closed on Thursday, Sept. 26. A decision about Friday, Sept. 27, has not been made at this time. USF Health patients may call the USF Health appointments hotline at 813-821-8038 to reschedule.
Students, faculty and staff are urged to plan carefully, follow local weather reports and monitor updates from county and state emergency management officials.
Florida A&M University
Florida A&M University (FAMU) says: “Out of an abundance of caution, classes will be canceled beginning today at 12:15 p.m. through Friday, Sept. 27. All academic operations will be suspended to accommodate any potential disruptions caused by the storm. All academic deans and faculty members are asked to work closely with students and provide maximum flexibility during this time.”
FAMU Athletics announced Tuesday that the football team’s upcoming game against Alabama A&M, initially scheduled for this weekend, has been rescheduled due to the impending arrival of Hurricane Helene. The game will occur on Friday, November 29, at Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
Hillsborough Community College
HCC announced its campuses will be closing at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 25 and Thursday, Sept. 26. All afternoon and evening classes are cancelled.
University of Tampa
University of Tampa officials announced Tuesday that all school activities, events, non-essential operations and classes will be cancelled from Wednesday, Sept. 25 through Friday, Sept. 27. Limited activities and services will be available beginning Saturday, Sept. 28 with the expectation of resuming full campus operations on Monday, Sept. 30, officials said.
This story will be updated with any other announcements from other school districts or colleges.
[ad_2]
Spectrum News Staff
Source link -
Latest evacuation notices and shelters opening in Tampa Bay
[ad_1]
TAMPA, Fla. — As Tampa Bay braces for the upcoming storm, evacuation shelters will be open to help residents stay safe.
View the shelter locations below:
Citrus County
Mandatory evacuation: Those living within Evacuation Zone A or any structure countywide not capable of withstanding tropical storm force winds or greater: Takes effect Wednesday, September 25, 2 p.m.
Also, after today’s policy meeting at the Emergency Operations Center, the Sheriff’s Office has decided to open shelters starting Wednesday, September 25th at 2pm.
Because some of our schools are used as hurricane shelters, this means that all schools will be closed after our scheduled half-day on Wednesday, September 25th.
Many factors are considered when the Emergency Operations Center activates shelters, and our school district plays a vital role in the EOC’s response.
The Special Needs Shelter (SpNS), located at Forest Ridge Elementary School, 2927 N. Forest Ridge Blvd., Hernando, FL 34442, is opened during natural disasters when Citrus County residents are encouraged or ordered to evacuate.
The Special Needs Program identifies a person’s disability, plus the special equipment or specific assistance needed during an evacuation. This includes transportation to a family member’s or friend’s house (within the county) or to the Special Needs Shelter, if you have no other sheltering option.
For more information, call the Florida Department of Health in Citrus County at 352-527-0068.
Pasco County
The Pasco Board of County Commissioners has issued a Local State of Emergency for Pasco County ahead of Tropical Storm Helene.
Mandatory evacuations will go into effect Wednesday, September 25, at 9:00 a.m. for the following:
• Evacuation Zone A
• Everyone living in a manufactured home, mobile home or RV anywhere in Pasco
• Everyone in low-lying areas or areas prone to flooding
• Everyone in an area ordered evacuated by local authorities due to life-safety hazards Voluntary evacuations will go into effect Wednesday, September 25, at 9:00 a.m. for the following:
• Evacuation Zones B and C
• Everyone registered with Pasco as a Special Needs Resident
• Everyone who would be vulnerable in the event of a power loss
Click here to see if you are in an evacuation zone.
Pasco County is also opening shelters Wednesday, September 25 for anyone who needs to leave their home ahead of the storm and has nowhere else to stay. To see a full list of shelters, click here. Pasco County’s Customer Service Center is open until 5 p.m. Tuesday and will be open 24 hours beginning Wednesday at 7 a.m. Call 727.847.2411 or chat with us online at MyPasco.net. Call 911 if you need emergency assistance. Pasco County is posting storm updates on our social media pages and our website: MyPasco.net
In response to the impending storm expected to impact the county on Thursday, Pasco County Emergency Management has requested the use of five schools as emergency shelters. Consequently, the following updates on school closures and activities have been announced:
Wednesday, September 25, 2024:
Schools will open as planned.
All after-school activities and events are canceled for shelter and storm preparation.
ASEP/PLACE activities will continue as usual.
Hernando County
Hernando County Emergency Management continues to monitor Tropical Storm Helene. Mandatory evacuation orders have been announced beginning Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at 8am.
Mandatory Evacuations have been issued for all areas west of US 19, which includes evacuation zones A, B, and C. All residents living in coastal and low-lying areas, as well as manufactured homes county wide, are included.
Shelters should be utilized as a last resort. Residents are advised to seek shelter with family or friends that reside in a safe structure. If this is not a possibility, a public shelter will open at 8am on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at the below address.
West Hernando Middle School
14325 Ken Austin Pkwy., Brooksville, FL 34614
o Special Needs Clients
o General Population
o Pet Friendly
*If you are needing the Special Needs Shelter and have a pet, transportation from either your house or shelter location for your pet is done through Animal Control with Hernando County Sheriff’s Office. Please call Hernando County Public Information Center (PIC) at 352-754-4083 to arrange pick up. The PIC is open.
Pet Friendly Shelter Tips
Citizens and their animals are housed in separate sections of the designated shelter(s). If you need to seek shelter with your pet during a declared emergency the following list will help you be prepared:
Bring your own appropriately sized crate (County resources are limited)
Bring all your dogs required medications
Bring several days’ worth of your animals’ food
Ensure your dog is current on all vaccinations
Bring your own leash and collar. Ensure your dog is trained to walk on a leash
Bring any toys and/or bedding that will make your animal comfortable
If your animal is fearful or shy, bring sheets to cover the crate while still allowing airflow
If you bring a crate place something unique on it to distinguish it from others
Understand that your animal will not be housed in the same section as you; however, you will have access to your animal and are still responsible for their care
Do not buy different snacks or food for the animal that they are not accustomed to, this will often cause the animals to have digestive issues; particularly when they are already stressed
If your animal has any propensity to bite animals or humans, please obtain and utilize a muzzle
Bring spray cleaner, paper towels etc., to be able to clean your animal’s crate
Visit www.HernandoCounty.us/EM for tips on what to bring to a shelter and tips for bringing your pet to a pet friendly shelter. Hernando County Government’s Office of Emergency Management continues to monitor and inform our community about storm impacts. Visit the following web and social media sites for more information.
For the latest local conditions and a complete list of news alerts go to www.HernandoCounty.us/EM
Sign up to receive weather alerts at www.AlertHernando.org
Follow us on Facebook:
o @HernandoCountyEM
o @HernandoCoGov
o @HernandoCountyFire.
Manatee County
No announcements yet.
Hillsborough County
No announcements yet.
Pinellas County
Evacuations: As of 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Pinellas County has only issued mandatory evacuations for healthcare and long-term care facilities located in
Zone A. Residents are urged to continue monitoring the storm at disaster.pinellas.gov and through local news sources.City of St. Petersburg Closures
– All City facilities will be closed on Wednesday, Sept. 25, and Thursday, Sept. 26, including Sunken Gardens.
– The St. Pete Pier will close at 2 p.m. tomorrow. Patrons should check with individual restaurants for operating hours.
– Residential trash and recycling will not be picked up on Thursday, Sept. 26. Thursday pickups for both residential and recycling will be collected on
Saturday, Sept. 28.
– Please secure all cans when doing storm preparations.
– Brush sites will be open Wednesday, but will be closed Thursday. The City plans on business as usual on Friday, but please check City social media for
real-time updates.
– The Code Enforcement Board Meeting is cancelled for Wednesday, Sept. 25.
– All City Council Meetings and Committee Meetings are cancelled for Thursday, Sept. 26.In a statement, the county said: “Pinellas County has not yet ordered evacuations for residents. However, we have started mandatory evacuations for our long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities and hospitals in Evacuation Zone A. We are coordinating directly with these facilities to make sure our most vulnerable residents have time to relocate to safety in the event we get severe impacts from the storm.”
Polk County
Know Your Evacuation Zones:
Track the storm and get weather alerts by downloading our Spectrum News app.
[ad_2]
Spectrum News Staff
Source link -
Tropical system continues to strengthen in Caribbean
[ad_1]
TAMPA, FL — A tropical storm will probably develop by Tuesday in the Western Caribbean, then it will likely strengthen into a hurricane by Wednesday.
A hurricane will likely track north and make landfall on Thursday somewhere between the Nature Coast and Panama City.
In terms of intensity, this storm is expected to become a major category 3 hurricane.
With such a range of possible landfall locations, this could lead to a number of different outcomes for the Tampa Bay region.
No matter the outcome, the timing of impacts for the Tampa Bay area look to start late Wednesday night and end Thursday night.
The reason for such high uncertainty lies in its lack of development.
While it has been designated as Potential Tropical Cyclone 9, it still does not have an organized center.
It is much more difficult to forecast a storm that hasn’t developed, than one that has.
The models are just guessing where an approximate center of the storm is now and going from there.
If the model is wrong about where the center is now, it most certainly will be wrong about where it will be on Thursday.
However, we can still outline possible scenarios that could pan out on Thursday.
Best-case scenario for the Tampa Bay area
A best-case scenario for the Tampa Bay and Nature Coast regions will be a track up the western side of the current forecast cone.
The area will still see bands of heavy rain starting Wednesday, then becoming more consistent on Thursday near the coast.
In this scenario, landfall would be in the Panhandle, around Apalachicola or west, with the center passing over 100 miles west of Tampa Bay.
Some coastal flooding would occur, but it would be minor, and only in the most flood-prone areas.
Wind gusts to 40 mph would be possible near the coast and power outages would be isolated.
The main impacts in the scenario would be minor coastal flooding and nuisance wind gusts.
Inland flooding would not be a huge concern, and rainfall amounts would be around 1 to 3 inches.
Worst-case scenario for the Tampa Bay area
The worst-case scenario for the area would certainly be a track up the eastern side of the current forecast cone.
This would mean a landfall just to the north of Tampa Bay.
While this is not a likely scenario, it is within the realm of possibility.
The biggest impact would be storm surge in this case.
While it would be hard to put an exact value to it at this point, it certainly would be a higher surge than anything seen in the area in many decades.
Hurricane-force winds would be likely in this scenario with many power outages along with damage to property.
Rainfall would still be on the low end for a hurricane, as it would be a fast moving storm.
Rainfall totals would be around 3 to 6 inches.
Somewhere in the middle
A solution somewhere in the middle appears the most likely for now.
This would mean a landfall in the Big Bend region.
While we certainly would not get the brunt of the impacts around Tampa Bay, we would still get some sizable ones.
A scenario like this could be similar to what transpired with Idalia last year.
Several feet of storm surge would be possible around the Tampa Bay area with the biggest surge impacts in our region on the Nature Coast.
In this scenario, hurricane-force winds would likely stay just west of us, but gusts over 50 mph would still be possible.
Scattered power outages would be possible, along with some minor wind damage to property.
Rainfall would be around 2 to 4 inches, so the inland flood risk would be low.
Stay updated as the track will become more certain during the day on Tuesday and impacts will become more clear.
For now, these are just possible scenarios, not definitive ones.
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.
[ad_2]
Meteorologist Kyle Hanson
Source link -
LIVE CHAT: Tropical storm expected to form in the Gulf soon
[ad_1]
A tropical storm is expected to form in the Gulf of Mexico soon. The next name on the list is Helene.
It’s expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it moves north in the eastern Gulf, eventually making landfall along the Gulf Coast around Thursday evening.
Rain and wind impacts will begin around Tampa Bay on Wednesday, with worsening conditions and dangerous storm surge possible beginning Thursday.
Bay News 9 Meteorologist Kyle Hanson will be here at 1 p.m. on Tuesday to answer your questions about the storm and let you know what to expect where you live.
[ad_2]
Spectrum News Weather Staff
Source link -
Tropical development possible in the Gulf next week
[ad_1]
We’re watching three areas with the potential to develop in the Atlantic basin.
An area in the northwestern Caribbean Sea has medium development odds, and two other areas in the central Atlantic have low odds to develop.
We’re watching a disturbance in the northwestern Caribbean Sea that has medium odds to develop in the next week. An area of low pressure should form later this weekend or early next week.
Once it forms, gradual development is possible as it moves slowly north or northwest toward the southern Gulf of Mexico. A tropical depression could form by early next week in the Gulf. It’s still too early to determine where this system could impact along the Gulf Coast if it develops, but we’re monitoring it closely.
There are two other areas of low pressure being monitored in the central Atlantic. Some development is possible for both systems, but conditions aren’t too favorable for development, and neither look threatening to land.
The next name on the list is Helene.
Here’s a look at the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season so far.
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.
[ad_2]
Spectrum News Staff
Source link -
Tropical Storm Gordon forms in the Atlantic
[ad_1]
Tropical Storm Gordon has formed in the central Atlantic. It’s the seventh named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
Gordon is moving west-nortwestward in the central Atlantic with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. It’s expected to continue to head westward across the Atlantic for the next few days.
It will slow down this weekend over the central Atlantic, where it’s expected to drift around and stay weak and unorganized as it moves into an area with drier air.
Models have Gordon moving west this weekend, and then there is more uncertainty in the track by early next week.
Conditions aren’t expected to be too favorable for Gordon to intensify much over the open Atlantic through this weekend, but conditions could improve early next week and Gordon could re-intensify.
It will not threaten any land.
Check to see how the rest of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is going so far.
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.
[ad_2]
Spectrum News Staff
Source link -
Francine made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane along coastal Louisiana
[ad_1]
Francine formed into a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday, Sept. 9, becoming the sixth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
It became a hurricane on Tuesday, Sept. 10. It slowly strengthened as it moved northeast in the Gulf, eventually becoming a Category 2 hurricane before moving inland.
Francine made landfall on Wednesday, Sept. 11, in Terrebonne Parish, La, as a Category 2 storm with maximum winds of 100 mph. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport reported a wind gust of 78 mph Wednesday night and 7.32 inches of rain in 24 hours.
At the storm’s peak, 450,000 people in Louisiana were estimated to be without power. Many of the outages were attributed to falling debris, not structural damage. At one point, around 500 people were in emergency shelters, officials said.
It moved inland Wednesday night and by Thursday morning, Sept. 12 it had weakened to a tropical storm. By the afternoon it became post-tropical, but continued to spin rain along the Deep South.
The remnant low brought rain as far north as the drought-stricken Mid-Mississippi River Valley and Tennessee Valley.
Here’s a look at the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season so far.
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.
[ad_2]
Spectrum News Staff
Source link -
LIVE CAMERAS: Watch Francine as it makes landfall in Louisiana
[ad_1]
Norman Bouisse, 76, left, and Jeremy Adam, back left, one of the captains for the 100-foot trawler Master Brandon, work at tying extra lines around a piling in their attempt to batten down their boat in anticipation of Hurricane Francine along the Louisiana coast in Lafitte on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Chris Granger/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP)
[ad_2]
Spectrum News Weather Staff
Source link -
An anomalously quiet Atlantic hurricane season so far
[ad_1]
Hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean spans June through November and this year was forecasted as one for the record books, thanks to several climatological features.
However, as we approach the midway point between the season, the under performance, so far, in the Atlantic basin has many questioning whether the season was over forecasted or the second half will see an “explosion” of activity.
2024 Atlantic Season predictions
Both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Colorado State University (CSU) made their seasonal forecasts back in May and had above average, ranging from 17 to 25 tropical cyclones (named storms) for NOAA and 23 named storms for CSU.
The average number of named storms is around 14 per season. So why the extreme forecasts?
The factors that contributed to the high number of storm predictions include near-record warmth of the Atlantic Ocean water temperatures and a La Niña. The La Niña creates a cooling of the equatorial Pacific Ocean temperatures but also reduces the wind shear and Atlantic trade winds, resulting in favorable conditions for storm development.
Strong start to the season
The season began strong. Alberto formed in mid-June over the southwestern part of the Gulf of Mexico.
Next came Beryl, a long-lived storm that formed late June, south of Cabo Verde and traversed the Atlantic Ocean, intensifying into a Category 5 hurricane on July 2, becoming the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record.
A vehicle is stranded in high waters on a flooded highway in Houston, on Monday, July 8, 2024, after Beryl came ashore in Texas as a hurricane and dumped heavy rains along the coast. (AP Photo/Juan A. Lozano)
Other storms that followed included Hurricane Debby and Hurricane Ernesto. Here’s a look at the 2024 hurricane season so far.
By mid-August, conditions in the Atlantic went quiet. A lull that lasted several weeks.
Early September saw the Atlantic wake up, with Francine forming on Sept. 9 in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico from a tropical wave that crossed the Atlantic the week prior.
“Atlantic Niña”
The sea surface temperatures (SSTs) of the North Atlantic remained extremely warm for much of the year. However, since early June, the central equatorial Atlantic has been about 0.5 to 1.0 degrees Celsius colder than average for this time of the year.
Dubbed, “Atlantic Niña,” this phenomenon has shifted the track of the “seed” storms, or disturbances that move west off the coast of Africa into the Atlantic Ocean and typically develop into intense storms. According to NOAA, “a stronger West African Monsoon, the track of these waves has shifted north toward cooler waters and overall, less conducive conditions needed for tropical cyclone formation.”
As of early September, the cooling of the central equatorial Atlantic has weakened with tropical activity expected to increase. NOAA suggests that even in active seasons, there can be periodic lulls in activity and is still forecasting a well above-average season.
Still a lot of the season to go
“We are just coming up on the halfway mark of the hurricane season, usually the time of peak activity,” says Dr. Frank Marks, a meteorologist in the Hurricane Research Division of NOAA/Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory.
Location is key. “For the month of September into early October, the most likely place to watch for tropical cyclone development is still the central Atlantic in the Caribbean. However, there is always a possibility of a tropical cyclone developing in the Gulf of Mexico along an old front.”
Stressing that systems that form in the Gulf of Mexico are dangerous, “As they are likely to strike land in 2-3 days rather than being able to track them across the Atlantic for a week or more.”
As for whether this season will be a bust for forecasters, Dr. Marks explains it like this. “Each hurricane season is different, with different changes in the weather patterns that affect the likelihood of storms to form. You need to remember that as Mark Twain once said, ‘Climate is what you expect, but weather is what you get.’”
Unfortunately, as history has proven, it doesn’t matter the total number of storms per season because it only takes one storm to make landfall in your area and cause devastation.
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.
[ad_2]
Meteorologist Stacy Lynn
Source link -
Francine is strengthening; Tropical Storm and Hurricane Warnings issued
[ad_1]
Francine has formed in the Gulf of Mexico, becoming the sixth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
Francine is a tropical storm with max winds of 65 mph. It’s slowly moving north-northwest in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico.
The storm will slowly move off the coast of northeastern Mexico and southern Texas during the next day or so. It will then turn toward the northeast and speed up as it heads to the central Gulf Coast.
The tropical-storm-force winds extend 160 miles outward from the center, meaning this is a large storm and impacts will be far from the center of the storm.
It’s forecast to strengthen into a hurricane and could become a hurricane late Monday night or early Tuesday. It is expected to make landfall around Louisiana sometime late Wednesday.
Regardless of development, this system will bring heavy rainfall to parts of the Gulf Coast and Deep South beginning Tuesday night. However, there is still uncertainty in the exact track and specific impacts.
The highest rainfall totals look to be around Louisiana and up the Mississippi River Valley, where flooding is possible through mid-to-late week.
Tropical Storm Watches and Warnings are issued for parts of the western and central Gulf Coast, and Hurricane Watches and Warnings are in effect across southern Louisiana.
Here’s a look at the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season so far.
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.
[ad_2]
Spectrum News Staff
Source link -
City of St. Pete offers additional days for residents to pick up free sandbags
[ad_1]
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — With hurricane season being in full swing, the city of St. Petersburg has created more days for residents to pick up sandbags during non-emergency times.
Sandbags are available on the second Saturday of the month at the year-round sandbag distribution location at the city’s Pavement and Traffic Operations Building.
For this month, there will be two Saturdays with extended hours:
- Saturday, Sept. 7, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 14, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Each household can receive a maximum of 10 sandbags, and residents must provide proof of St. Pete residency to pick up their sandbags. Staff will be available to help seniors and others who may be unable to fill and load their own sandbags.
Second Saturday hours will continue until further notice, officials said. During emergency declarations for storms, sandbag distribution locations and hours will change.
Get more weather and hurricane information on the city of St. Pete’s website.
[ad_2]
Spectrum News Staff
Source link -
Remembering the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935
[ad_1]
One of the most brutal hurricanes to ever strike our state took place over the Labor Day weekend in 1935. Known as the Labor Day Hurricane, it remains the strongest hurricane ever to make landfall in Florida in recorded history.
Our nation was in the midst of the Great Depression at the time.
Federal jobs were created to employ World War I veterans and several large-scale construction projects were ongoing, especially in the Florida Keys. The government sent nearly 700 veterans to the Keys to work on the projects.
Weather reports of tropical storm conditions were coming out of the Bahamas and a strengthening storm was headed west toward south Florida and the Florida Keys.
Leading up to Labor Day weekend, nearly half of the veterans took a trip to Miami for the weekend while the rest remained in place on the Florida Keys. There were some alerts that hurricane conditions were possible during Labor Day weekend and some residents began to board up while many others paid little attention to the storm.
Nobody knew how bad the storm was going to be.
The Labor Day Hurricane started to undergo rapid intensification as it neared the Florida Keys. It became a whopping category 5 hurricane with a very small eye, estimated to be about eight miles wide.
The strongest winds from the storm only extended 15 miles out from the center.
Photograph courtesy the State Library of Florida.
The hurricane made landfall on Long Key during the evening of September 2. Historic weather records say the calm weather in the eye lasted for 55 minutes before the ferocious weather returned.
All wind instruments were destroyed, but an engineering analysis was conducted on the aftermath, estimating the winds reached a peak intensity of 150-200 mph with gusts as high as 250 mph. The damage was unimaginable, but it only covered a small radius of 15 miles as this was a small but powerful hurricane.
Photograph courtesy the State Library of Florida.
A barometric pressure of 26.98” was reported on Long Key at 10:20 p.m. before the barometer was washed away by a historic storm surge. The lowest official barometric pressure was recorded in Craig, FL at 26.35”, or 892 mb, making it the most intense hurricane to ever strike Florida.
The record still stands today.
A surge of 18-20 feet above normal inundated the keys and washed away the famous Henry Flagler railroad to Key West.
Photograph courtesy the State Library of Florida.
The railway could have been rebuilt, but this was at the height of the Great Depression and the Florida East Coast Railroad was near bankruptcy. In order for the railroad to stay operational, the railroad sold the right-of-way to the state for cash rather than rebuild.
Therefore, the Great Depression is to blame for not having a railway to Key West rather than the Labor Day Hurricane itself.
Les Standiford wrote a lot more about this in his book, “Last Train to Paradise.”
Photograph courtesy the State Library of Florida.
As the hurricane pulled away from the Florida Keys, it began to curve north tracking along Florida’s West Coast. On the evening of September 3, the storm passed just offshore of Tampa Bay before striking Cedar Key the following morning.
Tampa measured hurricane-force winds of 75 mph, 7.3 inches of rain, and a 5.3 ft storm surge as the hurricane passed by. It almost hit Tampa Bay directly from the south, but it weakened rapidly and stayed just offshore.
Unfortunately, the storm killed many people in the Florida Keys. It is reported that 252 veterans were killed and 106 additional were injured. It is estimated that a total of 408 people were killed in total from the hurricane, including three in Cedar Key.
Most of the deaths were believed to be caused by the storm surge.
Had the storm surge not washed away the railroad and killed so many people and the pressure hadn’t been measured, this storm could have easily been missed from the record books because of the small size of the hurricane itself.
[ad_2]
Meteorologist Nick Merianos
Source link -
September hurricanes that brought devastation to the U.S.
[ad_1]
September is the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season.
This is because wind shear, the change of speed and/or direction of the wind with height, is weaker, and the ocean waters are extremely warm.
Sept. 10 is typically the last day for peak tropical activity. From then on out, activity declines, but this doesn’t mean we won’t see powerful storms.
Let’s look back in recorded history to some of the strongest storms that occurred during September.
The 2000s
Damage from Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers, Fla. in 2022. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Hurricane Ian in 2022: First forming on Sept. 24, Ian traveled through the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf and the Atlantic, making five total landfalls.
Ian made its first and second landfall in Cuba and Dry Tortugas, Fla. as a Category 3 hurricane, a third and fourth landfall in Cayo Costa, Fla. and near Punta Gorda, Fla. as a Category 4 hurricane and a final landfall in Georgetown, S.C. as a Category 1.
The hurricane affected Florida severely, with tens of thousands of structures damaged or destroyed. Catastrophic storm surge occurred on Florida’s west coast, reaching 10 to 15 feet near Fort Myers.
Historic flooding occurred in some areas, getting over 20 inches of rain. The highest total was 26.95 inches in Grove City, Fla.
Ian was responsible for 156 deaths, and became the third costliest hurricane on record, causing $112.9 billion in damage.
Two people ride past debris piled up on the beach in Galveston, Texas after Hurricane Ike hit the coast. Courtesy: AP/Matt Slocum.
Hurricane Ike in 2008: Our next hurricane takes us back to 2008 when a tropical wave slid off the coast of Africa at the end of August. It developed into a tropical depression on Sept. 1, and on the same day, became a tropical storm.
Ike became a hurricane on Sept. 3, underwent rapid intensification, and became a major hurricane later that same day. By the morning of Sept. 4, it reached a maximum intensity of 145 mph.
Ike first made landfall in Cuba as a Category 4 hurricane, bringing devastating impacts then weakening.
After, it moved into the Gulf of Mexico and regained strength, reaching Category 2 status before making landfall near Galveston, Texas on Sept. 13.
Ike’s slow movement and large wind field led to a storm surge up to 20 feet. It destroyed all homes on the Bolivar Peninsula, submerged roads with floodwaters and blocked roads with fallen debris.
Ike killed 74 people in the state of Texas, alone.
Its northeast movement brought impacts far north to the upper Midwest and Northeast, causing extensive wind damage and leaving millions of people without power for over a week.
Hurricane Rita in 2005: The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season will forever be a memorable one, with many powerful storms impacting the U.S. that year.
Only a few weeks after Hurricane Katrina, Rita developed into a tropical depression near Turks and Caicos on Sept. 18.
It tracked west for several days and underwent rapid intensification in the Gulf of Mexico, becoming a major Category 5 hurricane on Sept. 21. Rita weakened to a Category 3 hurricane right before making landfall in southwest Louisiana on Sept. 24.
Rita caused $18.5 billion in damage, bringing up to 15 feet of storm surge to the coast of Louisiana and Texas. It destroyed or damaged most homes.
Rita’s storm surge overtopped the levees that were newly repaired from Hurricane Katrina’s destruction the month prior, worsening the devastation across the city of New Orleans.
Hurricane Ivan floods Gulf Breeze, Fla. Courtesy: AP/John Bazemore
Hurricane Ivan in 2004: Ivan formed in the central Atlantic on Sept. 2, tracking west-northwest for a week while intensifying.
It first brushed by Jamaica, Cuba and the Cayman Islands, fluctuating between a Category 4 and Category 5 hurricane before weakening to a Category 3 hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico.
Ivan then made landfall near Gulf Shores, Ala. as a major Category 3 hurricane on Sept. 16.
Once again, the storm surge was the primary cause of damage, destroying and washing away many homes.
Ivan also produced over 100 tornadoes throughout 9 different states and dumped heavy rainfall along its path, racking up $20.5 billion in damage.
Ivan then moved eastward back toward the Atlantic Ocean, curved back toward Florida, moved over the Gulf of Mexico for a second time, and made a second landfall in Louisiana as a tropical depression.
Luckily, it weakened quickly and didn’t produce any big impacts the second time around.
The 1900s
Hurricane Floyd in 1999: Floyd first originated as a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa on Sept. 2.
It traveled west and intensified to a major Category 4 hurricane while traveling through the Bahamas.
Floyd then turned north and paralleled the Florida coast, weakening and making landfall at Cape Fear, N.C. as a Category 2 hurricane.
It brought heavy rain, tornadoes and a high storm surge.
The peak of the storm surge, which reached 10 feet, occurred at high tide, and devastated the state.
Nearly every river in eastern North Carolina reached flooding stage. Floyd dropped 17 inches of rain, which only added to the flooding.
The cyclone caught many people unprepared, and emergency crews had to make more than 1700 water rescues.
Floyd traveled up the east coast and also brought major flooding to northeastern cities, destroying many homes and businesses and leaving hundreds of thousands of people without power for days.
The 1938 New England Hurricane floods Providence, R.I. Courtesy: AP
The 1938 New England Hurricane: The New England Hurricane of 1938 first developed near the Cape Verde Islands on Sept. 9 and tracked toward the U.S.
It continued up the east coast and eventually made landfall on Long Island, N.Y. as a major Category 3 hurricane on Sept. 21.
Further inland, on the same day, the hurricane made a second landfall as a Category 3 hurricane between Bridgeport and New Haven.
Storm tide reached close to 17 feet for areas, destroying many homes. Montauk temporarily became an Island.
Many residents received little warning about the hurricane, which led to a deadly outcome. Around 500 to 700 people died.
The Great Miami Hurricane of 1926: Back in 1926, the government centralized storm warnings from their D.C. office, then distributed those warnings to other weather offices.
However, on the morning of Sept. 17, less than 24 hours before Florida felt the hurricane’s effects, the state didn’t receive any warnings. It wasn’t until the afternoon when the Miami Weather Bureau Office got the go ahead to post-tropical storm warnings.
That same night, those warnings became hurricane warnings.
By the morning on Sept. 18, the hurricane that no one prepared for made landfall in Miami, Fla. as a major Category 4 hurricane.
The hurricane killed over 100 people in Miami.
Many people were unfamiliar with hurricanes at the time, and while the eye was passing, they thought the hurricane was over.
The calm lasted about 35 minutes before the wind battered the coast again, and a 10-foot storm surge quickly pushed water on land, leading to a massive amount of destruction.
The 1800s
The Cheniere Caminada Hurricane of 1893: Also known as The Great October Storm, it first developed in the Caribbean Sea, bringing impacts to the southern areas of Mexico.
It then moved into the Gulf of Mexico and intensified to a Category 4 hurricane before making landfall on Cheniere Caminada, La., completely wiping the town off the map.
Sixteen-foot storm surge flooded the entire town, and strong winds added to the destruction.
Overall, over 2000 people died, making this hurricane one of the deadliest weather events in history.
The 1875 Indianola Hurricane: Our last stop takes us to 1875 when a cyclone just started brewing off the coast of Africa on Sept. 1. It made its way west, intensifying, and first passing through the Caribbean.
It emerged in the Gulf of Mexico where it slowly made its way to Category 3 status and made landfall on Sept. 16 near Indianola, Texas.
The hurricane devastated the town, and wind gusts leveled many homes. Hundreds of people died when the storm surge washed everything away.
The town tried to rebuild, but 11 years later, another hurricane destroyed the town, leaving the city to be abandoned.
Atlantic hurricane season
With the peak of hurricane season so close, we urge you to always stay prepared. This is when we see activity ramp up.
96% of Category 3, 4 and 5 hurricanes occur from mid-August to mid-October. This isn’t to say that all hurricanes that develop will make landfall in the U.S., but it is always best to stay prepared for any scenario.
Our team of meteorologists dive deep into the science of weather and break down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
[ad_2]
Meteorologist Shelly Lindblade
Source link -
Tropical Storm Hone will pass close to the Big Island late tonight
[ad_1]
Tropical Storm Hone formed on Thursday, August 22, in the Central Pacific Ocean.
Tropical Storm Hone formed in the Central Pacific Ocean on Thursday, Aug. 22. It has winds of 65 mph and is located about 185 miles southeast of Hilo, Hawaii. Tropical storm force winds extend 125 miles outward of the center.
It is tracking west at 15 mph and could pass just south of the Big Island Saturday evening into Sunday morning. Turn on notifications in the Spectrum News app to keep up with watches and warnings.
Impacts on the islands will depend on the track and intensity of the tropical activity near the islands. For now, it looks to bring windy and wet conditions, especially along the southern islands over the weekend.
Tropical Storm Warning
* A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Hawaii County. Tropical storm conditions are expected in this area as early as Saturday afternoon and will continue overnight into Sunday.
Will be strongest at the higher terrians, as they blow downslope, over headlands and through passes.
Rainfall
Some strengthening is likely as it approaches the islands. Rainfall totals will range from 5 to 10 inches, with locally higher amounts possible near the windward areas of the Big Island. 2 to 4 inches of rain is possible over windward sections of the smaller islands.
A Flood Watch is in effect for the Big Island through Monday evening.
[ad_2]
Spectrum News Weather Staff
Source link -
Residents get second chance tax holiday heading into peak storm season
[ad_1]
OLDSMAR, Fla. — It’s been a few weeks since several parts of the state saw impacts of Debby. Residents can prepare for the rest of storm season by stocking up and preparing emergency kits now.
Saturday kicks off the second chance to take advantage of the Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday.
It might be bright and sunny this Saturday, but when it’s not, Cameron Day knows it’s best to be prepared for severe weather.
“What I usually do is get a bin, and I’ll put all the stuff in the bin and then that’s in the garage, so I know all my stuff is in there and I collect the flashlights,” he said.
He’s been living in Pinellas County for four years now and knows the dangers hurricanes can bring.
Day is taking advantage of the Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday and stocking up on items like batteries, lights and more.
ACE Hardware in Oldsmar they’re keeping residents like Day informed.
They’ve set up a table with items that fall under the sales tax holiday.
“We have our flashlights, we have our flood barriers, our window and door protection kits, extra batteries, gas cans,” says Herb Dell, floor manager for the store.
Dell said the items that go fast in any emergency are flashlights and batteries, but he says it’s also important to think about your pets.
Pet carriers, cat litter and dog food all fall under the tax-free items this holiday.
Dell also says the biggest mistake anyone can do this hurricane season is to wait until the last minute to purchase items.
“When the hurricane gets closer, you see more people come in and again, it’s a last-minute thing, but we want to make sure we have a good amount of hurricane supplies in,” he said.
Dell said the first tax holiday season that happened earlier this year brought a lot of families into their store.
Now, a few weeks after Debby, he encourages more people to stock up now.
For Day, shopping for items also comes with a lot of planning.
“There’s a lot of things here and a lot of good ideas, and (it) helps me out and that’s what I like to do,” he said.
Rain or shine, Day is prepared and hopes others will take the time to do the same.
This disaster preparedness sales tax holiday runs until Sept. 6.
[ad_2]
Lizbeth Gutierrez
Source link -
‘Hope Florida’ program expanded as communities continue Debby recovery
[ad_1]
SARASOTA, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled an expansion to a program that helps people get back on their feet after a disaster like a huge storm or hurricane.
It comes at a time where many people continue to need assistance in recovering from the storm. In Laurel Meadows in Sarasota, floodwaters ravaged the entire community during then-Tropical Storm Debby and the cleanup is still ongoing.
Derrill Perrier’s home is still a mess from the storm, but crews are removing drywall and Perrier continues to salvage what he can.
“All the furniture is gone. All the vehicles are gone, about 20% of our belongings were saved,” Perrier said.
It hasn’t been an easy task to clean up.
“It was really a long two weeks. We were here from 9 in the morning to midnight just getting all the dirty awful stuff out the door,” Perrier said.
He has also been dealing with insurance companies, FEMA and other agencies. He said the process can be overwhelming.
DeSantis’ expansion of “Hope Florida” included the introduction of “Activate Hope” where state, local and private resources come together to help get people back on their feet.
“I think it’s a good idea. There are a lot of resources out there,” Perrier said. “The problem is we don’t know what’s all out there, maybe have a single place in the state that we can go in there and ask for help instead of trying to find all these different agencies.”
[ad_2]
Jeff Van Sant
Source link
