PASCO COUNTY: Man sought in Port Richey shoplifting case | News

This product covers West Central and Southwest Florida

**PTC 9 HAS NOW BEEN UPGRADED TO TROPICAL STORM HELENE**

NEW INFORMATION
---------------

* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- None

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- A Storm Surge Watch and Hurricane Watch are in effect for
Coastal Citrus, Coastal Hernando, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal
Levy, Coastal Manatee, Coastal Pasco, Coastal Sarasota, and
Pinellas
- A Storm Surge Watch and Tropical Storm Watch are in effect for
Coastal Charlotte and Coastal Lee
- A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Inland Citrus, Inland
Hernando, Inland Levy, and Inland Pasco
- A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for DeSoto, Hardee, Inland
Charlotte, Inland Hillsborough, Inland Lee, Inland Manatee,
Inland Sarasota, Polk, and Sumter

* STORM INFORMATION:
- About 670 miles south of Cedar Key FL or about 570 miles south
of Mouth of Tampa Bay FL
- 19.5N 84.3W
- Storm Intensity 45 mph
- Movement Northwest or 310 degrees at 12 mph

SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------

Tropical Storm Helene centered in the northwest Caribbean
Sea is forecast to continue to organize and more northwest today
before moving into the southern Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday.
Widespread impacts are expected across West-central and Southwest
Florida beginning Wednesday night and Thursday.

* Storm Surge - Life threatening storm surge of 10 to 15 feet from
Chassahowitzka to Suwannee River. Storm surge of 6 to 10 feet from
Anclote River to Chassahowitzka. Storm surge of 5 to 8 feet from
Middle of Longboat Key to Anclote River. Storm surge of 4 to 7 feet
from Englewood to Middle of Longboat Key. Storm surge of 3 to 5 feet
from Bonita Beach to Englewood.

* Rain - Flooding rain threat will run from Wednesday evening through
Thursday evening with rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches with locally
higher amounts up to 10 inches possible.

* Wind - Hurricane and tropical storm force winds will be possible
Wednesday night and Thursday with the highest probabilities along the
coast.

* Tornadoes - Tornadoes are possible Thursday, especially across the
Nature Coast and Tampa Bay area.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------

* SURGE:
Prepare for life-threatening surge having possible catastrophic
impacts across Nature Coast and West-Central Florida. Potential impacts in
this area include:
- Widespread deep inundation, with storm surge flooding greatly
accentuated by powerful battering waves. Structural damage to
buildings, with many washing away. Damage greatly compounded
from considerable floating debris. Locations may be
uninhabitable for an extended period.
- Near-shore escape routes and secondary roads washed out or
severely flooded. Flood control systems and barriers may become
stressed.
- Extreme beach erosion. New shoreline cuts possible.
- Massive damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers.
Numerous small craft broken away from moorings with many lifted
onshore and stranded.

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

* WIND:
Prepare for life-threatening wind having possible extensive impacts
across Nature Coast and coastal portions of west-central and
southwest Florida. Potential impacts in this area
include:
- Considerable roof damage to sturdy buildings, with some having
window, door, and garage door failures leading to structural
damage. Mobile homes severely damaged, with some destroyed.
Damage accentuated by airborne projectiles. Locations may be
uninhabitable for weeks.
- Many large trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and
roadway signs blown over.
- Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban
or heavily wooded places. Several bridges, causeways, and
access routes impassable.
- Large areas with power and communications outages.

Also, prepare for dangerous wind having possible limited to
significant impacts across west-central and southwest
Florida..

* FLOODING RAIN:
Prepare for life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible
extensive impacts across the Nature Coast. Potential
impacts include:
- Major rainfall flooding may prompt many evacuations and rescues.
- Rivers and tributaries may rapidly overflow their banks in
multiple places. Small streams, creeks, canals, and ditches may
become dangerous rivers. Flood control systems and barriers may
become stressed.
- Flood waters can enter many structures within multiple
communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed
away. Many places where flood waters may cover escape routes.
Streets and parking lots become rivers of moving water with
underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become dangerous.
Many road and bridge closures with some weakened or washed out.

Prepare for dangerous rainfall flooding having possible significant
impacts across West-Central and Southwest Florida.

* TORNADOES:
Prepare for a tornado event having possible limited impacts across Nature Coast
and Tampa Bay area. 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 boats pulled
from moorings.

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
----------------------------------

* EVACUATIONS:
Follow the advice of local officials.

* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:

When making safety and preparedness decisions, do not focus on the
exact forecast track since hazards such as flooding rain, damaging
wind gusts, storm surge, and tornadoes extend well away from the
center of the storm.

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, plan to move to safe shelter.

If you live in a place particularly vulnerable to flooding, such as
near the ocean or a large inland lake, in a low-lying or poor
drainage area, or near an already swollen river, plan to move to safe
shelter on higher ground.

Always heed the advice of local officials and comply with orders that
are issued. Do not needlessly jeopardize your life or the lives of
others.

When securing your property, outside preparations should be concluded
as soon as possible before conditions deteriorate. The onset of
strong gusty winds or flooding can cause certain preparedness
activities to become unsafe.

Check on those who may not be fully aware of the situation or who are
unable to make personal preparations.

If you are a visitor, know the name of the county or parish in which
you are located and where it is relative to current watches and
warnings. If staying at a hotel, ask the management staff about their
onsite disaster plan. Listen for evacuation orders, especially
pertaining to area visitors.

Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather Radio and local news
outlets for official storm information. Listen for possible changes
to the forecast.


* 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

NEXT UPDATE
-----------

The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather
Service in Tampa Bay Ruskin FL around 6 pm, or sooner if conditions
warrant.