Michael Tipton
Senior Member
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2005
- Professional Status
- Certified Residential Appraiser
- State
- Florida
MIAMI -- Tropical Storm Chris, the third named storm of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season, developed today near the Leeward Islands.
It might affect Florida's weather over the weekend, forecasters said.
Chris had sustained winds near 40 miles per hour, just above the threshold for a tropical storm, according to the National Hurricane Center.
A tropical storm warning was posted for the islands of Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, St. Kitts, Nevis, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Barthelemy and St. Martin.
A tropical storm watch was issued for Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.
The Lee County Emergency Operations Center issued a public advisory at 11 after the county fell within Chris's five-day forecast cone. Emergency officials said they are still monitoring the storm and have not activated any emergency preparations. They caution residents to keep an eye on upcoming forecasts.
At 11. Chris was centered about 100 miles east of Antigua and about 1,300 miles east-southeast of Miami. It was moving west-northwest near 10 mph, forecasters said. The storm was on track to pass over or near the northernmost Leeward Islands by early Wednesday, according to the hurricane center.
An aircraft was expected to fly into the region today and get a better estimate on the storm. It was not expected to form into a hurricane, forecasters said.
"We don't anticipate this system will explode and become a hurricane or anything like that," said Stacy Stewart, hurricane specialist. "This type of storm is not going to be a significant wind producer, but it will produce heavy rainfall because it is moving slow, which could produce flash flooding and mud slides."
Since the storm was headed in a general direction toward the U.S., Stewart said this was a good time for Floridians to review their hurricane prepareness.
"We do have a storm to the general southeast of us so people need to pay attention," he said. "We'll continue to monitor it over the next five days or so."
Hurricane center computer models have Chris tracking toward Florida. The projections place the storm near South Florida by Sunday.
The forecast has Chris as a strong tropical storm with sustained winds of 60 mph on Sunday.
Some dry air off the Florida coast may affect Chris as it moves westward.
Some early computer models showed Chris dissipating because of the dry air.
It might affect Florida's weather over the weekend, forecasters said.
Chris had sustained winds near 40 miles per hour, just above the threshold for a tropical storm, according to the National Hurricane Center.
A tropical storm warning was posted for the islands of Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, St. Kitts, Nevis, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Barthelemy and St. Martin.
A tropical storm watch was issued for Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.
The Lee County Emergency Operations Center issued a public advisory at 11 after the county fell within Chris's five-day forecast cone. Emergency officials said they are still monitoring the storm and have not activated any emergency preparations. They caution residents to keep an eye on upcoming forecasts.
At 11. Chris was centered about 100 miles east of Antigua and about 1,300 miles east-southeast of Miami. It was moving west-northwest near 10 mph, forecasters said. The storm was on track to pass over or near the northernmost Leeward Islands by early Wednesday, according to the hurricane center.
An aircraft was expected to fly into the region today and get a better estimate on the storm. It was not expected to form into a hurricane, forecasters said.
"We don't anticipate this system will explode and become a hurricane or anything like that," said Stacy Stewart, hurricane specialist. "This type of storm is not going to be a significant wind producer, but it will produce heavy rainfall because it is moving slow, which could produce flash flooding and mud slides."
Since the storm was headed in a general direction toward the U.S., Stewart said this was a good time for Floridians to review their hurricane prepareness.
"We do have a storm to the general southeast of us so people need to pay attention," he said. "We'll continue to monitor it over the next five days or so."
Hurricane center computer models have Chris tracking toward Florida. The projections place the storm near South Florida by Sunday.
The forecast has Chris as a strong tropical storm with sustained winds of 60 mph on Sunday.
Some dry air off the Florida coast may affect Chris as it moves westward.
Some early computer models showed Chris dissipating because of the dry air.