Watchful Eye Urged as Tropical System Develops

Now is a good time to review disaster and evacuation plans, according to the Hillsborough County Emergency Operations Center, which issued a mid-afternoon report on the low-pressure system developing in the Gulf of Mexico.

“Conditions are favorable for the development of a tropical depression,” according to the report, which noted the showers and thunderstorms near the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.

An Air Force reconnaissance aircraft was scheduled to investigate the system later in the day.

The Hillsborough report, issued at 3:15 p.m., acknowledged that because there is no “clear, closed center of circulation associated with the system,” there is no “high level of confidence in the track [the system] will take.” 

Nevertheless, the report’s forecast for the Tampa Bay area this weekend noted:

• Higher winds;
• Periodic heavy rains, with amounts totaling 4 to 7 inches through Tuesday, June 26;
• Above-normal tides, with the potential for minor beach erosion and minor coastal flooding;
• Strong rip-currents offshore;
• Urban- and small-stream flooding caused by heavy rains; and
• A possibility of isolated tornadoes.

At the time it issued its report, the Hillsborough County Emergency Operations Center was at a level-3 monitoring status, in cooperation with the National Weather Service.

Detailed information on preparing for the hurricane season, including links to the annual hurricane guide, evacuation zones and shelters is available online.

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