Avertizari vremea, Bushnell Tower

Tropical Cyclone Statement issued September 24 at 11:28AM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL HLSTBW This product covers West Central and Southwest Florida **PTC 9 HAS NOW BEEN UPGRADED TO TROPICAL STORM HELENE** NEW INFORMATION --------------- * CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - None * CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - A Storm Surge Watch and Hurricane Watch are in effect for Coastal Citrus, Coastal Hernando, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Levy, Coastal Manatee, Coastal Pasco, Coastal Sarasota, and Pinellas - A Storm Surge Watch and Tropical Storm Watch are in effect for Coastal Charlotte and Coastal Lee - A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Inland Citrus, Inland Hernando, Inland Levy, and Inland Pasco - A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for DeSoto, Hardee, Inland Charlotte, Inland Hillsborough, Inland Lee, Inland Manatee, Inland Sarasota, Polk, and Sumter * STORM INFORMATION: - About 670 miles south of Cedar Key FL or about 570 miles south of Mouth of Tampa Bay FL - 19.5N 84.3W - Storm Intensity 45 mph - Movement Northwest or 310 degrees at 12 mph SITUATION OVERVIEW ------------------ Tropical Storm Helene centered in the northwest Caribbean Sea is forecast to continue to organize and more northwest today before moving into the southern Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday. Widespread impacts are expected across West-central and Southwest Florida beginning Wednesday night and Thursday. * Storm Surge - Life threatening storm surge of 10 to 15 feet from Chassahowitzka to Suwannee River. Storm surge of 6 to 10 feet from Anclote River to Chassahowitzka. Storm surge of 5 to 8 feet from Middle of Longboat Key to Anclote River. Storm surge of 4 to 7 feet from Englewood to Middle of Longboat Key. Storm surge of 3 to 5 feet from Bonita Beach to Englewood. * Rain - Flooding rain threat will run from Wednesday evening through Thursday evening with rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches with locally higher amounts up to 10 inches possible. * Wind - Hurricane and tropical storm force winds will be possible Wednesday night and Thursday with the highest probabilities along the coast. * Tornadoes - Tornadoes are possible Thursday, especially across the Nature Coast and Tampa Bay area. POTENTIAL IMPACTS ----------------- * SURGE: Prepare for life-threatening surge having possible catastrophic impacts across Nature Coast and West-Central Florida. Potential impacts in this area include: - Widespread deep inundation, with storm surge flooding greatly accentuated by powerful battering waves. Structural damage to buildings, with many washing away. Damage greatly compounded from considerable floating debris. Locations may be uninhabitable for an extended period. - Near-shore escape routes and secondary roads washed out or severely flooded. Flood control systems and barriers may become stressed. - Extreme beach erosion. New shoreline cuts possible. - Massive damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers. Numerous small craft broken away from moorings with many lifted onshore and stranded. Elsewhere across West Central and Southwest Florida, little to no impact is anticipated. * WIND: Prepare for life-threatening wind having possible extensive impacts across Nature Coast and coastal portions of west-central and southwest Florida. Potential impacts in this area include: - Considerable roof damage to sturdy buildings, with some having window, door, and garage door failures leading to structural damage. Mobile homes severely damaged, with some destroyed. Damage accentuated by airborne projectiles. Locations may be uninhabitable for weeks. - Many large trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and roadway signs blown over. - Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban or heavily wooded places. Several bridges, causeways, and access routes impassable. - Large areas with power and communications outages. Also, prepare for dangerous wind having possible limited to significant impacts across west-central and southwest Florida.. * FLOODING RAIN: Prepare for life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible extensive impacts across the Nature Coast. Potential impacts include: - Major rainfall flooding may prompt many evacuations and rescues. - Rivers and tributaries may rapidly overflow their banks in multiple places. Small streams, creeks, canals, and ditches may become dangerous rivers. Flood control systems and barriers may become stressed. - Flood waters can enter many structures within multiple communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed away. Many places where flood waters may cover escape routes. Streets and parking lots become rivers of moving water with underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become dangerous. Many road and bridge closures with some weakened or washed out. Prepare for dangerous rainfall flooding having possible significant impacts across West-Central and Southwest Florida. * TORNADOES: Prepare for a tornado event having possible limited impacts across Nature Coast and Tampa Bay area. 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 boats pulled from moorings. Elsewhere across West Central and Southwest Florida, little to no impact is anticipated. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ---------------------------------- * EVACUATIONS: Follow the advice of local officials. * OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION: When making safety and preparedness decisions, do not focus on the exact forecast track since hazards such as flooding rain, damaging wind gusts, storm surge, and tornadoes extend well away from the center of the storm. If in a place that is vulnerable to high wind, such as near large trees, a manufactured home, upper floors of a high-rise building, or on a boat, plan to move to safe shelter. If you live in a place particularly vulnerable to flooding, such as near the ocean or a large inland lake, in a low-lying or poor drainage area, or near an already swollen river, plan to move to safe shelter on higher ground. Always heed the advice of local officials and comply with orders that are issued. Do not needlessly jeopardize your life or the lives of others. When securing your property, outside preparations should be concluded as soon as possible before conditions deteriorate. The onset of strong gusty winds or flooding can cause certain preparedness activities to become unsafe. Check on those who may not be fully aware of the situation or who are unable to make personal preparations. If you are a visitor, know the name of the county or parish in which you are located and where it is relative to current watches and warnings. If staying at a hotel, ask the management staff about their onsite disaster plan. Listen for evacuation orders, especially pertaining to area visitors. Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather Radio and local news outlets for official storm information. Listen for possible changes to the forecast. * ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION: - For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov - For information on creating an emergency plan see getagameplan.org - For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org NEXT UPDATE ----------- The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather Service in Tampa Bay Ruskin FL around 6 pm, or sooner if conditions warrant.