Alert: Tropical Cyclone Statement issued October 18 at 11:39AM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL

Event: Tropical Cyclone Statement
Sender Name: NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
Issued: 2019-10-18T11:39:00-04:00
Expires: 2019-10-18T19:45:00-04:00
Description: This product covers West Central and Southwest Florida

**NOAA HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT FINDS THE SYSTEM STRONGER**

NEW INFORMATION
—————

* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
– None

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
– A Storm Surge Warning and Tropical Storm Warning are in effect
for Coastal Levy
– A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for Coastal Citrus, Coastal
Hernando, Coastal Pasco, and Pinellas

* STORM INFORMATION:
– About 480 miles west-southwest of Cedar Key FL or about 460
miles west-southwest of Mouth of Tampa Bay FL
– 25.9N 90.0W
– Storm Intensity 60 mph
– Movement Northeast or 55 degrees at 22 mph

SITUATION OVERVIEW
——————

Potential Tropical Cyclone 16 over the central Gulf of Mexico is
moving northeast at 22 MPH and is expected to reach the Florida
panhandle early Saturday morning. Primary concerns along the Florida
west coast will be for heavy rainfall and minor to moderate coastal
flooding, especially from Tampa Bay north.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS
—————–

* SURGE:
Protect against life-threatening surge having possible significant
impacts across the Nature Coast. Potential impacts in this area
include:
– Areas of inundation with storm surge flooding accentuated by
waves. Damage to several buildings, mainly near the coast.
– Sections of near-shore escape routes and secondary roads become
weakened or washed out, especially in usually vulnerable low
spots.
– Major beach erosion with heavy surf breaching dunes. Strong and
numerous rip currents.
– Moderate damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers.
Several small craft broken away from moorings, especially in
unprotected anchorages.

Also, protect against locally hazardous surge having possible limited
impacts in Tampa Bay.

Elsewhere across West Central and Southwest Florida, little to no
impact is anticipated.

* 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.

Elsewhere across West Central and Southwest Florida, little to no
impact is anticipated.

* 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.

* WIND:
Protect against hazardous wind having possible limited impacts across
Levy County. Potential impacts in this area 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.

Elsewhere across West Central and Southwest Florida, little to no
impact is anticipated.

* OTHER COASTAL HAZARDS:
High surf and dangerous rip currents will occur over most of the
region. Storm surge of 1 to 3 feet is likely to occur in portions
of Tampa Bay.
Instruction: * EVACUATIONS:
Listen to local official for recommended preparedness actions,
including possible evacuation. If ordered to evacuate, do so
immediately.

* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:
Now is the time to complete all preparations to protect life and
property in accordance with your emergency plan. Ensure you are in a
safe location before the onset of strong winds or possible flooding.

If you are a visitor, be sure to know the name of the city or town in
which you are staying and the name of the county or parish in which
it resides. Listen for these locations in local news updates. Pay
attention for instructions from local authorities.

Storm surge is the leading killer associated with tropical storms and
hurricanes! Make sure you are in a safe area away from the surge
zone. Even if you are not in a surge-prone area, you could find
yourself cutoff by flood waters during and after the storm. Heed
evacuation orders issued by the local authorities.

Rapidly rising flood waters are deadly. If you are in a flood-prone
area, consider moving to higher ground. Never drive through a flooded
roadway. Remember, turn around don’t drown!

If a Tornado Warning is issued for your area, be ready to shelter
quickly, preferably away from windows and in an interior room not
prone to flooding. If driving, scan the roadside for quick shelter
options.

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, consider moving to a safer shelter before the onset of
strong winds or flooding.

Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather radio or local news outlets
for official storm information. Be ready to adapt to possible changes
to the forecast. Ensure you have multiple ways to receive weather
warnings.

* 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
Link to more Info: http://www.weather.gov
Urgency: Expected
Severity: Moderate
Certainty: Likely
Categories: Met,
Area Description: Coastal Sarasota; Coastal Manatee; Inland Levy; Coastal Pasco; Highlands; Coastal Hillsborough; Coastal Charlotte; Inland Hernando; Inland Pasco; Inland Manatee; Pinellas; Inland Charlotte; Inland Hillsborough; Coastal Levy; Inland Lee; Polk; Hardee; Inland Sarasota; Coastal Citrus; Inland Citrus; Sumter; DeSoto; Coastal Lee; Coastal Hernando

Message Identifier: NWS-IDP-PROD-3873341
CAP MessageType: Alert
Added note: – Tornado warnngs