Tropical depression to bring heavy rain, gusty winds to parts of Florida
The system is expected to become Tropical Storm Bertha.
FORT MYERS, Fla. —
As of 2 a.m. Monday, Tropical Depression Two is continues to drift north-northwest at only 3 mph. The system is producing winds at 30 mph and is about 125 miles south of Panama City, Florida. This will bring heavy rain to the Florida Panhandle, Alabama and Mississippi. No direct impacts are expected in Southwest Florida.
Tropical Depression Two is expected to strengthen into Tropical Storm Bertha Monday. To become a named storm, winds must be sustained at 39 mph or greater. The latest forecast cone shows the center of the storm taking a sharp turn west over the next few days. Despite very warm waters, high wind shear and some land interaction is expected to limit significant intensification. Any development in the coming days is expected to be gradual.
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for parts of the panhandle of Florida from the Ochlockee River to the Alabama border.
The biggest threat from this system will be heavy rain and the potential for flooding. Tropical Depression Two is expected to bring 2-4 inches of rain, with isolated pockets up to 8 inches along the Florida Panhandle to the Texas coast.
Storm surge could be between 1 to 3 feet for portions of the Panhandle and the Big Bend.
Impact on Southwest Florida
No direct impacts are expected in Southwest Florida. While the system drifts northward, off and on again downpours will filter through our coastal communities Monday. As the system turn west on Tuesday, our rain chances will begin to decrease. Rainfall totals across Southwest Florida are expected to be under one inch over the next 5 days.
Tropical Milestones:
We usually see our second named storm form in the Atlantic by July 17. Typically, the first hurricane of the season doesn’t form until August 11.
We are forecasted to see a below-average hurricane season this year. This is primarily due to El Nino, which tends to suppress tropical activity in the Atlantic.
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