Tag Archives: Gainesville

Low Pressure System Moves Over Northern Florida

A low pressure system designated as Invest 93L moved over northern Florida on Tuesday.  At 2:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of a low pressure system designated as Invest 93L was located at latitude 29.8°N and longitude 81.2°W which put the center about 10 miles (15 km) southeast of St. Augustine, Florida.  Invest 93L was moving toward the west at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 30 m.p.h. (50 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1013 mb.

The center of a low pressure system designated as Invest 93L moved over the coast of northern Florida between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach on Tuesday afternoon.  The distribution of thunderstorms in Invest 93L was asymmetrical.  Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the southwestern quadrant of the low pressure system.  Those thunderstorms were dropping heavy rain in some locations.  Bands in the other parts of Invest 93L consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.

Flood Watches were in effect for parts of the Florida Peninsula.  The region under Flood Watches extended from south of Gainesville to north of Sebring, and it included Orlando, Tampa and St. Petersburg.

The low pressure system designated as Invest 93L will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over the southeastern U.S.  The high pressure system will steer Invest 93L toward the west during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Invest 93L will move across northern Florida during the next 12 hours.  The center of Invest 93L could move over the northeastern Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday.

If the center of Invest 93L moves over the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, it could move into an environment somewhat favorable for the development of a tropical cyclone on Wednesday.  Invest 93L would move over water where where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C.  It would move under the southeastern part of an upper level ridge over the southeastern U.S.  The upper level ridge would produce northeasterly winds that would blow toward the top of Invest 93L.  Those winds would cause moderate vertical wind shear.  The vertical wind shear would inhibit the development of a tropical cyclone.  However, the wind shear might not be enough to prevent Invest 93L from developing into a tropical cyclone.

A U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter reconnaissance plane is tentatively tasked with investigating the low pressure system on Wednesday afternoon, if necessary.

Center of Tropical Storm Debby Near Savannah

The center of Tropical Storm Debby was near Savannah, Georgia on Tuesday morning.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Debby was located at latitude 31.9°N and longitude 81.0°W which put the center about 15 miles (25 km) south of Savannah, Georgia.  Debby was moving toward the east-northeast at 6 m.p.h. (10 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 999 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Altamaha Sound Georgia to Surf City, North Carolina.  The Tropical Storm Warning included Charleston, South Carolina.

A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Surf City to Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina.

Tropical Storm Debby continued to drop heavy rain over parts of South Carolina and eastern Georgia.  The airport at Charleston, South Carolina reported 8.11 inches (206 mm) of rain during the past 24 hours.  Valdosta, Georgia received 2.75 inches (70 mm) of rain.  Sarasota, Florida reported 11.06 inches (281 mm) of rain from Debby.  Gainesville, Florida received 6.80 inches (173 mm) of rain.  Jacksonville, Florida reported 4.70 inches (119 mm) of rain.  It is likely that higher rainfall totals occurred in some places where bands moved persistently over the same locations.

Southerly winds blowing around the eastern side of Tropical Storm Debby were pushing water toward the coast of South Carolina.  There were numerous reports of water in streets in Charleston, South Carolina.

Tropical Storm Debby weakened during the day it spent moving slowly across northern Florida and southeastern Georgia.  Drier air wrapped around the western and southern sides of Debby’s circulation.  Bands in the southwestern and southeastern quadrants of Tropical Storm Debby consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  Showers and thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the outer parts of the northeastern and northwestern quadrants of Tropical Storm Debby.  There were also showers and lower clouds near the center of Debby.

The distribution of wind speeds in Tropical Storm Debby was also asymmetrical.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 205 miles (330 km) in the eastern side of Debby.  Those winds were occurring in bands in the outer parts of Debby’s circulation.  The winds in the parts of Debby’s circulation that were over land were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Debby will move into an environment favorable for intensification.  Debby will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move under the middle of an upper level ridge over the southeastern U.S.  The upper level winds are weak near the center of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear.  The drier air in the southern part of Debby’s circulation will inhibit intensification.  Tropical Storm Debby is likely to intensify slowly during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Debby will be in an area where the steering winds are weak during the next 24 hours.  Debby is likely to move slowly toward the east-northeast during the rest of Tuesday.  A high pressure system located east of Tropical Storm Debby is forecast to strengthen on Wednesday.  That high pressure system will steer Debby slowly toward the north on Wednesday.  On its anticipated track, the center of Tropical Storm Debby could approach the coast of South Carolina on Wednesday night.

Tropical Storm Debby will continue to drop heavy rain on parts of South Carolina, North Carolina and eastern Georgia.  Since Debby will move slowly, persistent heavy rain is likely to cause floods.

Flood Watches are in effect for parts of South Carolina, North Carolina and eastern Georgia.

Southerly winds blowing around the eastern side of Tropical Storm Debby will continue to push water toward the coast of South Carolina and North Carolina.  Debby could cause a storm surge of up to 6 feet (1.8 meters).

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Altamaha Sound, Georgia, to South Santee River, South Carolina.

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for the portion of the coast from South Santee River, South Carolina to Cape Fear, North Carolina.