weather Tropical Storm Warning for parts of Florida

Since one of our members @swamprat may be affected by this storm I'm starting this new thread. The tropical storm watch has been upgraded to a tropical storm warning for parts of Florida and Alabama.

 

 

National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL AL012018

532 PM EDT Sat May 26 2018

 

 

This product covers West Central and Southwest Florida

 

 

**TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND STORM SURGE WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS

OF THE FLORIDA WEST COAST**

 

 

 

 

NEW INFORMATION

---------------

 

 

* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:

- The Tropical Storm Watch has been upgraded to a Tropical Storm

Warning for Coastal Charlotte, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal

Manatee, Coastal Sarasota, and Pinellas

- A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for Coastal Lee

 

 

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:

- A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Coastal Charlotte,

Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Lee, Coastal Manatee, Coastal

Sarasota, and Pinellas

- A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for Coastal Citrus and Coastal

Levy

 

 

* STORM INFORMATION:

- About 330 miles south-southwest of Mouth of Tampa Bay FL or

about 310 miles southwest of Fort Myers FL

- 23.3N 85.1W

- Storm Intensity 40 mph

- Movement North or 10 degrees at 13 mph

 

 

SITUATION OVERVIEW

------------------

 

 

Subtropical Storm Alberto is forecast to strengthen while moving

northward over the Gulf of Mexico and will impact West Central and

Southwest Florida tonight into Sunday night. The primary concerns at

this time are storm surge flooding along the Citrus and Levy county

coasts, heavy rainfall across the area causing localized flooding,

and tropical storm force winds, mainly close to the coast from

Tampa Bay south.

 

 

POTENTIAL IMPACTS

-----------------

 

 

* FLOODING RAIN:

Protect against locally hazardous rainfall flooding having possible

limited impacts across West Central and Southwest Florida. Potential

impacts include:

- Localized rainfall flooding may prompt a few evacuations.

- Rivers and tributaries may quickly rise with swifter currents.

Small streams, creeks, canals, and ditches may become swollen

and overflow in spots.

- Flood waters can enter a few structures, especially in usually

vulnerable spots. A few places where rapid ponding of water

occurs at underpasses, low-lying spots, and poor drainage

areas. Several storm drains and retention ponds become

near-full and begin to overflow. Some brief road and bridge

closures.

 

 

* SURGE:

Protect against locally hazardous surge having possible limited

impacts across Levy County and south to Crystal River. Potential

impacts in this area include:

- Localized inundation with storm surge flooding mainly along

immediate shorelines and in low-lying spots, or in areas

farther inland near where higher surge waters move ashore.

- Sections of near-shore roads and parking lots become overspread

with surge water. Driving conditions dangerous in places where

surge water covers the road.

- Moderate beach erosion. Heavy surf also breaching dunes, mainly

in usually vulnerable locations. Strong rip currents.

- Minor to locally moderate damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks,

and piers. A few small craft broken away from moorings.

 

 

Elsewhere across West Central and Southwest Florida, little to no

impact is anticipated.

 

 

* WIND:

Protect against hazardous wind having possible limited impacts across

West Central and Southwest Florida. Potential impacts include:

- Damage to porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored

mobile homes. Unsecured lightweight objects blown about.

- Many large tree limbs broken off. A few trees snapped or

uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are

shallow rooted. Some fences and roadway signs blown over.

- A few roads impassable from debris, particularly within urban

or heavily wooded places. Hazardous driving conditions on

bridges and other elevated roadways.

- Scattered power and communications outages.

 

 

* TORNADOES:

Protect against a tornado event having possible limited impacts

across West Central and Southwest Florida. Potential impacts include:

- The occurrence of isolated tornadoes can hinder the execution

of emergency plans during tropical events.

- A few places may experience tornado damage, along with power

and communications disruptions.

- Locations could realize roofs peeled off buildings, chimneys

toppled, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned,

large tree tops and branches snapped off, shallow-rooted trees

knocked over, moving vehicles blown off roads, and small boats

pulled from moorings.

 

 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS

----------------------------------

 

 

* EVACUATIONS:

Listen to local officials for recommended preparedness actions,

including possible evacuations. If ordered to evacuate, do so

immediately.

 

 

For those not under evacuation orders, assess the risk from wind,

falling trees, and flooding at your location. If you decide to

move, relocate to a safer location nearby. If you do not relocate,

help keep roadways open for those under evacuation orders.

 

 

If evacuating, leave with a destination in mind and allow extra

time to get there. Take your emergency supplies kit. Gas up your

vehicle ahead of time. Follow designated evacuation routes. Seek

traffic information on roadway signs, the radio, and from official

sources.

 

 

Let others know where you are going prior to departure. Secure

loose items and pets in the car, and avoid distracted driving.

GFS Track of Alberto. remember the track will probably change some by landfall

 

 

Rainfall Accumulations

 

Thanks @nWo. It's calm here with light rain where I am, right now, though it has been raining hard off and on all day.

 

I think @coldweatherfan is down here at the moment. If he is at his villa near St. Pete Beach, he's almost right on the water and he may be getting more of the storm than I am.

 

Alberto is also a long way out to sea.

 

Governor Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency for Florida, to get everything in motion should the storm turn bad.

You're welcome. This mornings modeling data has the track a little more towards the east than yesterday. As we know the track can change day by day. Also, the NAM 3km has Alberto near a category one hurricane just before landfall. Watch for strong to severe storms than could produce damaging winds, hail and a few tornadoes even if it doesn't make landfall in your part of Florida.

 

 

The wind is worse here now than it was at anytime, yesterday. It's pretty windy at the moment, but nothing terrible. My little anemometer is reading gusts around 25 mph. About the same as a daily shower, but no rain this evening.

 

Yesterday, we had some heavy rain before noon, but nothing harder than a usual afternoon storm. Hardly any wind. Actually the afternoon storms have been worse than that was. Around 3, the sun came out an we had an excellent evening.

 

While I like the fact that everyone was ready, for something bad, I worry that getting this hyped up over, basically, a tropical depression will make people become complacent and ignore warnings when a bad hurricane does happen. I've seen it happen before. Here is hoping Harvey and Irma is still fresh in everybody's mind, though Irma dying as fast as she did, may result in the same effect.

 

Thanks for all the updates, nWo. I appreciate your attention.