TROPICAL STORM FRED TO MAKE LANDFALL MONDAY NIGHT IN FLORIDA PANHANDLE; TRACKING GRACE… Tropical Storm Fred will likely make landfall near or just to the east of our local area as a tropical storm on Monday evening. While most of the more significant impacts are expected to happen across the Florida Panhandle region and southeast Alabama, there remains somewhat of a chance we could have flash flooding, a few tornadoes, and gusty winds on the far eastern periphery of our region, dependent exclusively on the exact track of Fred in the hours ahead. Join me in this special live video for a detailed update.
FRED STRENGTHENING; LIKELY TO BE A 60 MPH TROPICAL STORM AT LANDFALL… Tropical Storm Fred is growing more organized today over the warm waters of the central Gulf of Mexico. Maximum winds are now at 45 mph, per the latest advisory from NHC. More, gradual strengthening is expected over the next 24 hours before landfall. The cone of uncertainty of where the center of Fred is likely to make landfall extends from Navarre, FL on the west side to Port St. Joe, FL on the east side with a most likely landfall point near Seaside, FL.
TROPICAL STORM WARNING FROM NAVARRE TO THE EAST… A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from Navarre, FL to the Wakulla/Jefferson County line near Tallahassee. Wind gusts of 40-50 mph may be possible in these zones. Along the coast, this Tropical Storm Warning includes Navarre, Mary Esther, Fort Walton Beach, Eglin AFB, Niceville, Destin, Miramar Beach, Sandestin, Santa Rosa Beach, Seaside, Rosemary Beach, Alys Beach, Laguna Beach, Panama City Beach, Tyndall AFB, Mexico Beach, Port St. Joe, Cape San Blas, Indian Pass, Apalachicola, Eastpoint, Carrabelle, Sopchoppy, and St. Marks.
TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR ALL OF OKALOOSA, SOUTHEAST AL, FL PANHANDLE… In addition to the coastal locales involved in the Tropical Storm Warning, all parts of Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf, Franklin, Liberty, Calhoun, Jackson, Washington (FL), and Holmes counties are involved in the Tropical Storm Warning. Wind gusts of 35-45 mph may be possible in these zones. This includes places like Crestview, Baker, Laurel Hill, DeFuniak Springs, Mossy Head, Marianna, Bonifay, Panama City, Lynn Haven, Parker, Springfield, Wewahitchka, Blountstown, and surrounding areas in the Florida Panhandle region. We note that southeast Alabama is involved in a Tropical Storm Warning as well, including all parts of Houston, Geneva, Coffee, Dale, and Henry counties. That includes places like Dothan, Enterprise, Elba, Geneva, Samson, Slocomb, Ft. Rucker, Headland, and Abbeville.
TROPICAL STORM WATCH FOR 3 COUNTIES LOCALLY… All parts of Escambia (FL), Santa Rosa, and Covington counties are involved in a Tropical Storm Watch. This Tropical Storm Watch is in effect due to the potential for wind gusts of 30-40 mph, although there is a real chance high winds of that magnitude may not happen in these 3 counties. This includes places like Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, Pensacola Beach, Warrington, Molino, Walnut Hill, Bratt, Century, Milton, Pace, Whiting Field, Chumuckla, Jay, Berrydale, Munson, Andalusia, Opp, Florala, Red Level, Carolina, Straughn, Onycha, Rose Hill, and surrounding areas.
UPDATE ON T.D. GRACE… Tropical Depression Grace is located southwest of Puerto Rico in the eastern Caribbean Sea. Grace will likely remain a disorganized system over the next day or so. The official NHC forecast brings Grace into the southern Gulf of Mexico later this week as a tropical storm. It remains well too early to know exactly where Grace will end up. We will begin to focus more heavily on Grace once Fred clears out of our local area.
INVEST 96L LIKELY TO DEVELOP NEAR BERMUDA… In addition to Fred and Grace, there is a high chance we will see a new tropical storm form near Bermuda in the Atlantic Ocean over the next day or so. This system is currently branded as INVEST 96L. Early indications point to 96L not being an issue for south Alabama or northwest Florida. Folks with interest in Bermuda should closely monitor the progress of this developing storm.
APP ALERTS… If you haven’t already, be sure to download the free RedZone Weather app to keep up with all the latest information on the world of weather in south Alabama and northwest Florida. redzoneweather.com/app is the link for the free download. Once you have the app downloaded to your iOS or Android device, be sure to visit the Alerts tab (lower right corner) and tap the large, yellow Alert Settings button to customize the alerts you would like to receive straight from me.
I will have another detailed update posted by 7:15AM tomorrow morning. Until then, be sure to join me in the RedZone Weather app for more updates over the next several hours.
