Advarsler, Spessard Holland Park

Rip Current Statement issued September 25 at 8:05AM EDT until September 25 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL * WHAT...Dangerous, life threatening rip currents, rough surf, and a developing longshore current. * WHERE...Coastal Volusia, Coastal Indian River, Coastal Saint Lucie, Coastal Martin, and Coastal Brevard Counties. * WHEN...Until 8 PM EDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. Longshore currents can push swimmers into deeper water unexpectedly, making them more susceptible to dangerous rip currents. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Beach and surf conditions will remain dangerous through at least Thursday due to Tropical Cyclone Helene. Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from shore, which occur most often at low spots or breaks in the sandbar and in the vicinity of structures such as jetties and piers. Heed the advice of lifeguards, beach patrol flags and signs. Entering the surf is strongly discouraged. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.

Tropical Cyclone Statement issued September 25 at 5:18AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL HLSMLB This product covers East Central Florida **TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS EXPECTED ON THURSDAY** **PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE COMPLETED TODAY** NEW INFORMATION --------------- * CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - None * CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Coastal Indian River, Coastal Martin, Coastal Saint Lucie, Coastal Volusia, Inland Indian River, Inland Martin, Inland Northern Brevard, Inland Saint Lucie, Inland Southern Brevard, Inland Volusia, Mainland Northern Brevard, Mainland Southern Brevard, Northern Brevard Barrier Islands, Northern Lake, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Southern Brevard Barrier Islands, and Southern Lake * STORM INFORMATION: - About 620 miles south-southwest of Leesburg FL - 20.7N 86.2W - Storm Intensity 65 mph - Movement Northwest or 325 degrees at 9 mph SITUATION OVERVIEW ------------------ Tropical Storm Helene is located just east of Cozumel this morning and is forecast to move northward into the Gulf Of Mexico by this evening. The storm is organizing and is expected to become a hurricane today. Helene is expected to continue north-northeastward, with increasing forward speed, across the eastern Gulf Of Mexico through Thursday. Tropical moisture quickly returns to east central Florida today. Developing outer rain bands are forecast to develop and move northwestward. Multiple rounds of rainfall are expected, especially as the system makes its closest approach from tonight into Thursday. Locally higher rainfall totals will result from rain bands repeatedly moving over the same locations. Generally, 1 to 3 inches of total rainfall are forecast areawide with locally higher amounts of up to 6 inches possible. These rainfall amounts, along with instances of higher rainfall rates, will be capable of producing flooding in low-lying and urban areas, especially in areas which have already received heavy rainfall this month. Ponding of water on roadways may also lead to hazardous driving conditions. Any future adjustments in the track of this system may result in changes to the current rainfall forecast. Helene is forecast to quickly intensify into a major hurricane prior to landfall near Florida's eastern Panhandle or Big Bend on Thursday evening. The area of tropical storm force winds is expected to encompass a large area to the east of its center. Tropical Storm Warnings remain in effect for all of east central Florida as well as the adjacent Atlantic waters. Frequent tropical storm force gusts will be possible across the area during Thursday into Thursday evening as Helene makes its closest approach to the area. The potential for gusts up to 60 mph will exist, particularly northwest of I-4, along the east central Florida coast, near the intracoastal waterways, and in vicinity of Lake Okeechobee. In addition to strong wind gusts, there is a potential for several tornadoes embedded in rain bands late tonight through Thursday. From late tonight through Thursday night, battering surf, numerous life-threatening rip currents, and a longshore current will cause dangerous beach conditions. Run-up to the dune line and sea walls will result in minor to moderate beach erosion. Impacts will be greatest during the Thursday afternoon high tide, occurring between 3 PM and 5 PM. Marine conditions will become dangerous, and small craft operators should remain in port. Do not let your guard down. This will be a very large storm, and impacts will be experienced far from the center of the storm. Efforts to protect life and property should now be underway and be completed by this afternoon. Make sure you have a hurricane kit and plan in place. As Tropical Storm Helene becomes better organized today, additional changes to the forecast are possible. Any eastward shifts in the forecast track would increase the potential for additional impacts locally, so continue to monitor the latest forecasts from the National Hurricane Center and National Weather Service in Melbourne, Florida. POTENTIAL IMPACTS ----------------- * WIND: Protect against hazardous wind having possible limited impacts across East Central Florida. Potential impacts include: - Damage to porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored mobile homes. Unsecured lightweight objects blown about. - Many large tree limbs broken off. A few trees snapped or uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are shallow rooted. Some fences and roadway signs blown over. - A few roads impassable from debris, particularly within urban or heavily wooded places. Hazardous driving conditions on bridges and other elevated roadways. - Scattered power and communications outages. * TORNADOES: Protect against a dangerous tornado event having possible significant impacts across much of East Central Florida. Potential impacts include: - The occurrence of scattered tornadoes can hinder the execution of emergency plans during tropical events. - Several places may experience tornado damage with a few spots of considerable damage, power loss, and communications failures. - Locations could realize roofs torn off frame houses, mobile homes demolished, boxcars overturned, large trees snapped or uprooted, vehicles tumbled, and small boats tossed about. Dangerous projectiles can add to the toll. Protect against a tornado event having possible limited impacts across the Treasure Coast and near Lake Okeechobee. * FLOODING RAIN: Protect against dangerous rainfall flooding having possible significant impacts across inland portions of east central Florida. Potential impacts include: - Moderate rainfall flooding may prompt several evacuations and rescues. - Rivers and tributaries may quickly become swollen with swifter currents and overspill their banks in a few places, especially in usually vulnerable spots. Small streams, creeks, canals, and ditches overflow. - Flood waters can enter some structures or weaken foundations. Several places may experience expanded areas of rapid inundation at underpasses, low-lying spots, and poor drainage areas. Some streets and parking lots take on moving water as storm drains and retention ponds overflow. Driving conditions become hazardous. Some road and bridge closures. Prepare for locally hazardous rainfall flooding having possible limited impacts across the remainder of east central Florida. * SURGE: Protect against locally hazardous surge having possible limited impacts mainly across Volusia County. Potential impacts in this area include: - Localized inundation with storm surge flooding mainly along immediate shorelines and in low-lying spots, or in areas farther inland near where higher surge waters move ashore. - Sections of near-shore roads and parking lots become overspread with surge water. Driving conditions dangerous in places where surge water covers the road. - Moderate beach erosion. Heavy surf also breaching dunes, mainly in usually vulnerable locations. Strong rip currents. - Minor to locally moderate damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers. A few small craft broken away from moorings. Elsewhere across East Central Florida, little to no impact is anticipated. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ---------------------------------- * EVACUATIONS: Follow the advice of local officials. * OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION: Now is the time to complete all preparations to protect life and property in accordance with your emergency plan. Ensure you are in a safe location before the onset of strong winds or possible flooding. If you are a visitor, be sure to know the name of the city or town in which you are staying and the name of the county in which it resides. Listen for these locations in local news updates. Pay attention for instructions from local authorities. Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather radio or local news outlets for official storm information. Be ready to adapt to possible changes to the forecast. Ensure you have multiple ways to receive weather warnings. * 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 Melbourne FL around 12 PM EDT, or sooner if conditions warrant.