Tropical Storm Hermine is crawling northward with strength at 60 mph. It is expected to become a hurricane when it makes landfall. A hurricane warning has been issued for portions of the Gulf Coast.

  • Hurricane warning: Suwannee River to Mexico Beach
  • Hurricane watch: Coastal Citrus, coastal Hernando, coastal Pasco
  • Tropical storm watch: Inland Citrus, inland Hernando, inland Pasco, Marion
  • Scott declares state of emergency in more than 40 counties, including Osceola

According to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center, the storm was packing sustained winds of 60 mph early Thursday morning. It's moving north at 6 mph, and it should pick up some forward speed as it heads toward Florida's Gulf Coast.

A hurricane warning was issued late Wednesday for portions of the Gulf Coast, from the Suwannee River westward to Mexico Beach.

More strengthening is expected in the next 24 to 36 hours, and NHC forecasters say it should reach hurricane status by landfall. On its current forecast track, Hermine will be near the coast in the warning area Thursday.

The storm will pick up speed before it makes landfall, which is expected to happen anywhere from Cedar Key tor Panama City.

The storm is about 394 miles west-southwest of Orlando and 317 miles west-southwest of Tampa.

Bands of showers and storms will continue to increase overnight and into Thursday.

A tropical storm watch continues for Marion County.

Several inches of rain is expected across Central Florida over the next 24 to 36 hours. Minor flooding is possible.

Central Florida weather: Rain chances are at 70 percent today with winds gusting over 20 mph. An isolated tornado threat exists area wide tonight. There’s an 80 percent chance Thursday with gusts ranging from about 25 to 30 mph north of a line from Ocala to Jacksonville northward, to 20 to 25 mph in a line from Wildwood to Palm Coast southward and lower in Polk, Osceola and Brevard counties. Hermine will very quickly exit the state Friday afternoon, with wind and rain chances coming down. Rain totals through Friday are forecast to climb between 3 to 8 inches, with some isolated spots picking up almost a foot along the west coast.

Flooding is a concern in areas where the heaviest rain falls, especially along the west coast.

Clear up loose items in your yard and trim the palm fronds. Make sure your hurricane kit is prepped, and go over a plan of attack with your family.


 

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The Latest

2 a.m.

Hermine slowed down again as it continues to crawl toward Florida's coast. It is expected to pick up speed before it makes landfall. The storm is also expected to reach hurricane strength by landfall.

11 p.m.

Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane warning for portions of the Gulf Coast. They said they expect the strengthening tropical cyclone to reach hurricane strength by landfall. the hurricane warning extends from the Suwannee River westward to Mexico Beach, Florida.

10 p.m.

Osceola County has locations across the county giving out 25 sandbags per household. Kissimmee resident Aileen Abueg said she likes to prepare conditions outside and inside her home and already knows where she'll be putting sandbags.

“I am putting them by the deck of the pool where the dirt is coming in. I just want to secure that area so we don’t have to do that cleaning again."

Abueg has been living in Buenaventura Lakes for almost a decade and said she is concerned because that area is prone to flooding.

— Stephanie Bechara, staff

9:45 p.m.

Boat owners in Flagler County were taking precautions to protect their property Wednesday from any surf.

At the Palm Coast Marina, they were tying their boats to a dock to make sure they're secure before the storm. Some boaters said they doubled up lines to try to prevent their boats from shifting too much in the strong winds.

Several families at the marina call their boats home.

"Just about everybody out here that has a boat has been doing it," Jeff Park said. "For the boats and folks not here, the dock master has been coming out and doubling out lines and making sure everything is secure."

The city and county also put out sandbags for homeowners. They're available at fire stations and the city public works throughout the county.

Brittany Jones, staff

8 p.m.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Hermine has strengthened to maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, with higher gusts. It's heading north-northeast at 8 mph. On its current track, the center of the storm will be near the warning area on the Gulf Coast by Thursday night.

Gov. Rick Scott has expanded the earlier executive order to declare states of emergency for more than 40 Florida counties. Osceola County is among nine new counties covered by the expansion.

“At this time, we expect storm surge of upwards of 6 feet in some parts of our state," Scott's office said in a news release. "We also anticipate total rainfall amounts of five to 10 inches of over portions of Northwest Florida and isolated tornadoes. ... Now that Tropical Storm Hermine is approaching our state, it is even more important for all Floridians to get a plan and prepare for severe weather."

On Thursday, Scott will monitor Tropical Strom Hermine from the State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee. Scott will participate in a weather briefing call with the National Hurricane Center at 11:15 a.m.

6:45 p.m.

Orange County Public Schools said it will be open Thursday. But all outdoor after-school extracurricular activities were canceled. Extended day will go on as normal before and after school.

In Volusia County, Beach Safety flew the red flag today. Few people were on the beach today, the agency said, so there were no water rescues — despite a high rip-current threat — or other significant issues.

5 p.m.

The latest advisory has Hermine moving north-northeast at 7 mph. Its maximum sustained winds are at 45 mph. The hurricane watches and tropical storm warnings have been extended westward along the Florida Panhandle to Destin.

4 p.m.

Schools in Volusia and Flagler counties will be in session, but all after-school and athletics activities Thursday have been canceled, the districts said.

3 p.m.

Brevard County Public Schools said schools will be in session Thursday.

2:25 p.m. 

Volusia County Public Schools says schools will be open Thursday, Sept. 1. All afterschool/athletic events are canceled Thursday, but dismissal and extended day will not be impacted.

2:03 p.m.

After a 13-day trek, the tropical depression we've been monitoring has strengthened into Tropical Storm Hermine.

12:21 p.m.

Flagler County Public Schools says it's not expecting any schedule changes for Thursday, Sept. 1.

12:01 p.m.

Michael Lawrence, communications officer for Seminole County Public Schools, said the district released the following information regarding tropical weather and school updates:

"We continue to monitor the weather and will keep in contact with our community using our callout system, the SCPS website and social media regarding any impact on school operations or activities. In addition, please check Seminole County Government's website and local city and news websites for the latest weather updates. We encourage all residents of Seminole County to sign up for Severe Weather Alerts via www.AlertSeminole.org."

11:02 a.m.

Kevin Christian, public relations officer for Marion County Public Schools, said via email that the district will likely operate on normal schedules Thursday, Sept. 1, based on the latest weather advisory. 

9:25 a.m.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a State of Emergency in 42 counties. You can view Scott's executive order on the state's website.


 

Latest watches, warnings

A tropical storm watch has been issued for the Atlantic coast, from Marineland, Florida, to Altamaha Sound, Georgia.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

  • A hurricane warning is in effect for:
    • Suwannee River westward to Mexico Beach, Florida
  • A hurricane watch is in effect for:
    • Anclote River to Suwannee River
    • West of Mexico Beach to Destin
  • A tropical storm warning is in effect for:
    • Anclote River to Suwannee River
    • West of Mexcio Beach to Destin
  • A tropical storm watch is in effect for:
    • Marineland, Florida to South Santee River

A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typicall issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.

A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

Tropical Storm warnings have been issued from the Bay/Walton county line to the Anclote River near Tarpon Springs.

Despite the intensity or classification of this storm around landfall, dangerous storm surge flooding is likely along the coast well to the east and south of the path of the center of circulation.

A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for much of North Florida extending down to Marion County.

A Tropical Storm Watch is issued when tropical storm conditions are possible within 48 hours. Winds may exceed 39 mph within the watch area and torrential rain may amount to over 4 to 8 inches, causing flooding.


 

How close is the storm?

  • Orlando: 388 miles WSW
  • Daytona Beach: 427 miles WSW
  • Cape Canaveral: 426 miles WSW
  • Melbourne: 418 miles WSW
  • Tampa: 310 miles WSW
  • Tallahassee: 350 miles SSW
  • Jacksonville: 441 miles SW

 

Hazards affecting land

Wind: Tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles from the center. Hurricane conditions are expected to reach the coast within the warning area Thursday night. Tropical storm-force winds are forecast to reach the area Thursday afternoon.

Storm surge: Normally dry areas near the coast could get flooded. There's the potential of "life-threatening indundation" in the next 36 hours along the Gulf Coast, from Aripeka to Indian Pass. The water could reach the following heights above ground if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide:

  • Destin to Indian Pass: 1-3 feet
  • Indian Pass to Chassahowitzka: 4-7 feet
  • Chassahowitzka to Aripeka: 2-4 feet
  • Aripeka to Bonita beach, including Tampa Bay: 1-3 feet
  • Florida-Georgia line to Cape Fear: 1-3 feet

Rainfall: Hermine is expected to produce 5 to 10 inches of rain over parts of northwest Florida through Friday, with isolated areas possibly getting up to 20 inches. NHC officials are urging caution, with the potential for "life-threatening" flooding and flash flooding.

Tornadoes: Isolated tornadoes are possible overnight Wednesday to Thursday near the Central Florida coast. The tornado risk will increase through Thursday.


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