Tag Archives: St. Augustine

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.

Hurricane Debby Moves Inland over North Florida

Hurricane Debby moved inland over North Florida on Monday morning.  At 8:00 a.m. EDT on Monday the center of Hurricane Debby was located at latitude 29.9°N and longitude 83.4°W which put the center about 20 miles (30 km) southeast of Perry, Florida.  Debby was moving toward the north-northeast at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 979 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Yankeetown to Indian Pass, Florida.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Yankeetown to Boca Grande, Florida.  A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Indian Pass to Mexico Beach, Florida. A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from St. Augustine, Florida to South Santee River, South Carolina.

The center of Hurricane Debby made landfall near Steinhatchee, Florida on Monday morning.  The maximum sustained wind speed in Hurricane Debby was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) at the time of landfall.  Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the northern and eastern parts of Debby’s circulation.  Bands in the southern and western parts of Hurricane Debby consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.

The distribution of winds speeds around Hurricane Debby was also asymmetrical at the time of landfall.  Winds to hurricane force extended out 25 miles (40 km) in the eastern side of Debby’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 140 miles (225 km) in the eastern half of Hurricane Debby.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 70 miles in the western half of Debby’s circulation.

Hurricane Debby will move around the western end of a high pressure system over the western Atlantic Ocean.  The high pressure system and an upper level trough over the eastern U.S. will steer Debby toward the east-northeast during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Hurricane Debby will move across northeastern Florida and southeastern Georgia.  The steering currents could weaken during the  middle of the week and Debby could meander near the coast of South Carolina.

Hurricane Debby will weaken to a tropical storm as it moves inland over northeastern Florida and southeastern Georgia.  Debby will continue to produce strong winds and electricity outages are likely.  Hurricane Debby will drop heavy rain over northeastern Florida and southeastern Georgia.  Widespread flooding could occur.  If Debby stalls near South Carolina later this week, then prolonged heavy rain could occur.

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

Hurricane Debby will continue to cause a storm surge along the coast of west Florida while southwest winds blow water toward the coast.  The storm surge could be as high as 10 feet (3 meters) along parts of the coast.

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Longboat Key to Indian Pass, Florida.  A Storm Storm Warning is also in effect for the portion of the coast Mouth of the St. Mary’s River, Georgia to South Santee River, South Carolina.

Tropical Storm Nicole Brings Wind and Rain to Florida

Tropical Storm Nicole brought wind and rain to Florida on Thursday. At 4:00 p.m. EST on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Nicole was located at latitude 29.4°N and longitude 83.2°W which put it about 25 miles (40 km) northwest of Cedar Key, Florida. Nicole was moving toward the northwest at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 990 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from the Flagler/Volusia County Line, Florida to Altamaha Sound, Georgia. The Tropical Storm Warning included Jacksonville. A Tropical Storm Warning was also in effect for the portion of the coast from Aripeka to Indian Pass, Florida.

Tropical Storm Nicole brought wind and rain as it moved across Central Florida. Nicole weakened gradually as it moved across the Florida Peninsula, but it still had a well organized circulation. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 170 miles (275 km) from the center of Nicole’s circulation.

The strongest winds in Tropical Storm Nicole occurred near the east coast of Florida on Thursday. A weather station in Daytona Beach reported a sustained wind speed of 49 m.p.h. (79 km/h) and a wind gust of 70 m.p.h. (113 km/h). A weather station in St. Augustine reported a sustained wind speed of 46 m.p.h. (74 km/h) and a wind gust of 59 m.p.h. (95 km/h). A weather station in Jacksonville reported a sustained wind speed of 37 m.p.h. (59 km/h) and a wind gust of 56 m.p.h. (91 km/h). The winds were weaker along the west coast of Florida. A weather station in Tampa reported a sustained wind speed of 29 m.p.h. (46 km/h) and a wind gust of 53 m.p.h. (85 km/h).

An upper level trough and a surface cold front over the central U.S. will turn Tropical Storm Nicole toward the northeast during Thursday night. The center of Nicole will be over southern Georgia on Thursday night and it could be over western South Carolina by Friday afternoon. Tropical Storm Nicole will continue to weaken during the next 24 hours. Nicole will produce gusty winds over northern Florida, southern Georgia and parts of South Carolina. Those winds could cause scattered power outages. The large waves causing serious beach erosion along the east coast of Florida will start to diminish on Friday. Waves could cause some erosion of beaches in Georgia and South Carolina on Friday when Tropical Storm Nicole moves farther to the north. Nicole could drop locally heavy rain over parts of northern Florida, southern Georgia, and South Carolina. Heavy rain could cause floods in some locations.