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Tropical Storm Fay has moved over the Straits of Florida and could reach hurricane strength later today as it heads into the Florida Keys.
The outer bands of Fay have reached the Florida Keys and the southern tip of the Florida Peninsula. ; The AccuWeather.com Hurricane Center reports that at 11 a.m. EDT, Fay was located about 70 miles south-southeast of Key West.
Sustained winds have increased to near 60 mph with higher gusts. The tropical storm-force winds extend about 115 miles out from the center of the storm.
Fay is moving north-northwest over the Straits of Florida near 13 mph. The storm will intensify over the warm water in the strait and could be a hurricane by the time it passes over the Keys later this afternoon.
Fay is forecast to make landfall early on the Florida mainland early Tuesday near Naples or Ft. Myers. Fay will then cross the Florida Peninsula, reaching the Jacksonville area by early Wednesday .
The Severe Weather Center lists the numerous Related News
Video: Latest Weather Update ;
Vlog: Meteo Madness - Creeping Fay ;
Blog: Weather Matrix - Blind Eye to Hurricanes?
Blog: Frank Strait - Fay Has Us Nervous
watches and warnings in effect in Florida.
A hurricane warning is in effect for the southwestern coast of Florida from Flamingo to Anna Maria Island. A hurricane watch is in effect in the Keys from south of Ocean Reef to Key West and on the peninsula east of Flamingo to Card Sound Bridge and along the west coast from from Anna Maria to Tarpon Springs.
Tropical storm warnings are in effect for the Keys south of Ocean Reef, on the east coast of the peninsula south of Cocoa Beach and on the west coast east of Flamingo. ;
Motorists head out of Key West in Fiesta Key, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008, ahead of Tropical Storm Fay. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
The Bahamian government has issued a tropical storm watch for the northwestern Bahamas.
Floridians and tourists spent the weekend preparing for Fay. Gov. Charlie Crist on Saturday declared a state of emergency and put 9,000 National Guard troops on alert. The State Emergency Response Team (SERT) has been activated.
The Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee is monitoring the storm and preparing to assist counties with potential protective actions and evacuations, if they become necessary.
Craig Fugate, Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, is urging Floridians to be prepared for any protective actions local officials may suggest. ; "This is the time to make sure all of your emergency plans are in place and you have the supplies you need to keep your family safe."
A mandatory evacuation order for visitors to the Florida Keys went into effect on Sunday morning. Associated Press reports a light, but steady stream of traffic headed north from the lower Keys on Sunday. Traffic was heavier along US-1 in the upper Keys.
The Florida Highway Patrol sent in extra troopers to help along the 110-mile, mostly two-lane highway that winds through the Keys. Monroe County Sheriff Rick Roth told AP the Overseas Highway would likely remain open during and after the storm, but he urged people not to travel once Fay hits.
Key West is a virtual ghost town today. Monroe County Mayor Mario Di Gennaro says about 25,000 tourists had evacuated. However, many locals are staying to ride out the storm. Key West International Airport closed this morning after the last plane left for Fort Lauderdale with 19 people aboard.
The storm could impact tourism across the state. Walt Disney World spokeswoman Jacquee Polak tells AccuWeather.com officials at the Orlando park are monitoring Fay before deciding on any operational changes. Four to 8 inches of rain is forecast in Florida, along with a strong storm surge and tides of 3 to 6 feet above normal in areas of an onshore flow. There will be the potential for tornado development as the winds interact with the mainland.
The storm is being closely watched by commodities traders. Expert Senior Meteorologist and AccuWeather.com agriculture expert Dale Mohler says Fay should cause minimal damage on Florida citrus crops. "Fay will produce 20- to 40-mph winds with higher gusts, but that is the strength of winds that develop in typical Florida thunderstorms."
Mohler adds that the winds from Fay will last longer than thunderstorm winds; however, "The young fruit on the trees are smaller and have stronger stems than more mature fruit. As a result, the winds will knock down much less fruit than a storm later in the year."
Energy traders have also been monitoring Fay. The forecast track will take Fay into the eastern Gulf of Mexico, which will not pose a major threat to oil and natural gas operations in the Gulf. The threat has helped to send oil prices higher in Monday morning trading on world markets.
Shell Oil reported on Sunday that approximately 200 personnel were evacuated after approximately 160 offshore personnel were evacuated on Saturday, primarily from Shell's East operations area. However, the company website reports "there remains no impact to Shell operated production at this time."
The South Regional News story reports the rain will spread across the Southeast later in the week, helping to ease the long-standing drought conditions in Georgia and the Carolinas.
http://www.accuweather.com/news-top-hea ... 8-18_10:30
The outer bands of Fay have reached the Florida Keys and the southern tip of the Florida Peninsula. ; The AccuWeather.com Hurricane Center reports that at 11 a.m. EDT, Fay was located about 70 miles south-southeast of Key West.
Sustained winds have increased to near 60 mph with higher gusts. The tropical storm-force winds extend about 115 miles out from the center of the storm.
Fay is moving north-northwest over the Straits of Florida near 13 mph. The storm will intensify over the warm water in the strait and could be a hurricane by the time it passes over the Keys later this afternoon.
Fay is forecast to make landfall early on the Florida mainland early Tuesday near Naples or Ft. Myers. Fay will then cross the Florida Peninsula, reaching the Jacksonville area by early Wednesday .
The Severe Weather Center lists the numerous Related News
Video: Latest Weather Update ;
Vlog: Meteo Madness - Creeping Fay ;
Blog: Weather Matrix - Blind Eye to Hurricanes?
Blog: Frank Strait - Fay Has Us Nervous
watches and warnings in effect in Florida.
A hurricane warning is in effect for the southwestern coast of Florida from Flamingo to Anna Maria Island. A hurricane watch is in effect in the Keys from south of Ocean Reef to Key West and on the peninsula east of Flamingo to Card Sound Bridge and along the west coast from from Anna Maria to Tarpon Springs.
Tropical storm warnings are in effect for the Keys south of Ocean Reef, on the east coast of the peninsula south of Cocoa Beach and on the west coast east of Flamingo. ;
Motorists head out of Key West in Fiesta Key, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008, ahead of Tropical Storm Fay. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
The Bahamian government has issued a tropical storm watch for the northwestern Bahamas.
Floridians and tourists spent the weekend preparing for Fay. Gov. Charlie Crist on Saturday declared a state of emergency and put 9,000 National Guard troops on alert. The State Emergency Response Team (SERT) has been activated.
The Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee is monitoring the storm and preparing to assist counties with potential protective actions and evacuations, if they become necessary.
Craig Fugate, Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, is urging Floridians to be prepared for any protective actions local officials may suggest. ; "This is the time to make sure all of your emergency plans are in place and you have the supplies you need to keep your family safe."
A mandatory evacuation order for visitors to the Florida Keys went into effect on Sunday morning. Associated Press reports a light, but steady stream of traffic headed north from the lower Keys on Sunday. Traffic was heavier along US-1 in the upper Keys.
The Florida Highway Patrol sent in extra troopers to help along the 110-mile, mostly two-lane highway that winds through the Keys. Monroe County Sheriff Rick Roth told AP the Overseas Highway would likely remain open during and after the storm, but he urged people not to travel once Fay hits.
Key West is a virtual ghost town today. Monroe County Mayor Mario Di Gennaro says about 25,000 tourists had evacuated. However, many locals are staying to ride out the storm. Key West International Airport closed this morning after the last plane left for Fort Lauderdale with 19 people aboard.
The storm could impact tourism across the state. Walt Disney World spokeswoman Jacquee Polak tells AccuWeather.com officials at the Orlando park are monitoring Fay before deciding on any operational changes. Four to 8 inches of rain is forecast in Florida, along with a strong storm surge and tides of 3 to 6 feet above normal in areas of an onshore flow. There will be the potential for tornado development as the winds interact with the mainland.
The storm is being closely watched by commodities traders. Expert Senior Meteorologist and AccuWeather.com agriculture expert Dale Mohler says Fay should cause minimal damage on Florida citrus crops. "Fay will produce 20- to 40-mph winds with higher gusts, but that is the strength of winds that develop in typical Florida thunderstorms."
Mohler adds that the winds from Fay will last longer than thunderstorm winds; however, "The young fruit on the trees are smaller and have stronger stems than more mature fruit. As a result, the winds will knock down much less fruit than a storm later in the year."
Energy traders have also been monitoring Fay. The forecast track will take Fay into the eastern Gulf of Mexico, which will not pose a major threat to oil and natural gas operations in the Gulf. The threat has helped to send oil prices higher in Monday morning trading on world markets.
Shell Oil reported on Sunday that approximately 200 personnel were evacuated after approximately 160 offshore personnel were evacuated on Saturday, primarily from Shell's East operations area. However, the company website reports "there remains no impact to Shell operated production at this time."
The South Regional News story reports the rain will spread across the Southeast later in the week, helping to ease the long-standing drought conditions in Georgia and the Carolinas.
http://www.accuweather.com/news-top-hea ... 8-18_10:30
