TROPICAL STORM FRED TO MAKE LANDFALL THIS EVENING IN FLORIDA PANHANDLE… Rain and thunderstorms are likely at times on this Monday across south Alabama and northwest Florida as Tropical Storm Fred continues to approach the Florida Panhandle coast from the south. While the core impacts of Fred will likely miss much of our local area to the east, heavy rain and breezy conditions are likely at times today. The center of Fred is likely to make landfall in Okaloosa, Walton, or Bay counties in Florida this evening, likely between 3PM and 10PM. In addition to Fred, we’re also keeping tabs on Tropical Depression Grace, currently located south of the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Sea. A new storm in the Atlantic Ocean near Bermuda is also developing, but that particular system is not expected to affect the continental United States. A few more Monday morning forecast details are below.
WHAT TO EXPECT – TODAY INTO TONIGHT… Rain and thunderstorms are likely at times today. The highest rain chances will happen in parts of Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Covington, Butler, Escambia (AL), and Conecuh counties as the core of Tropical Storm Fred passes just to the east. Winds will be out of the northeast today around the counterclockwise circulation associated with Fred. I will have radar updates posted throughout the day in the RedZone Weather app.
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 – COVINGTON & OKALOOSA… In addition to the coastal locales involved in the Tropical Storm Warning, all parts of Covington, 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 Andalusia, Opp, Florala, 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 CANCELLED… Escambia (FL), Santa Rosa, and Escambia (AL) counties were involved in a Tropical Storm Watch yesterday, but the watch has now been cancelled. Tropical storm force wind gusts are unlikely in these three counties.
GRACE REMAINS DISORGANIZED IN CARIBBEAN SEA… Tropical Depression Grace continues to move west across the northern part of the Caribbean Sea. Grace will likely make landfall in Hispaniola and move across Haiti over the next 24 hours. This area is still recovering from the devastating M7.2 earthquake that happened over the weekend. Mudslides will be a real concern across the island of Hispaniola as Grace moves by. The National Hurricane Center continues to forecast northwesterly movement of Grace, as a tropical depression, across Cuba. Grace is likely to emerge into the southern Gulf of Mexico by Wednesday night. Most of the model guidance continues to show westerly movement toward Texas and Mexico, but it is far too early to know for sure exactly where Grace will end up. Please check back in for updates on Grace in the days ahead. We will begin to more heavily focus on Grace starting tomorrow afternoon after the hazards from Fred have passed.
SOON-TO-BE HENRI NEAR BERMUDA… Advisories were started last evening on Tropical Depression 8, aka what will likely become Tropical Storm Henri (pronounced Ahn-Ree, as a French name) near Bermuda in the Atlantic Ocean. TD8/Henri is expected to move in somewhat of a loop before moving out to sea in a few days. We note some of the intensity models ramp up TD8/Henri to major hurricane status in 4-5 days. The official NHC forecast is well below that intensity, for now.
SCATTERED STORMS IN THE DAYS AHEAD… Long after the passage of Tropical Storm Fred, our area will continue to have scattered pop-up thunderstorms each afternoon and evening over the next several days. High temperatures will be in the 90s later this week with morning lows in the low-70s.
APP ALERTS… Many updates will be posted throughout the day in the RedZone Weather app. redzoneweather.com/app is the link for the free download. Be sure to visit the Alerts tab (bottom right corner) and tap the large, yellow “Alert Settings” button to customize the alerts you’d like to receive from me. If you like a lot of info, be sure to toggle ON Low-Level Alerts.
See all the details in your Monday morning #rzw forecast video. I will have plenty of updates posted throughout the day in the RedZone Weather app and here on Facebook as needed.
Have a nice start to your week!
