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Tropical Storm Andrea Brings Heavy Rain, High Winds to Central Florida

June 6, 2013 | WMFE - Less than a week into the Atlantic hurricane season, Florida is preparing for its first named storm. Tropical Storm Andrea organized and strengthened significantly overnight in the Gulf of Mexico off Florida's west coast.

As of the 8am update, the storm is centered less than 200 miles west-southwest of Tampa and is moving north-northeast at about 14 miles per hour. Andrea has maximum sustained winds of 60 mph and the storm is expected to make landfall in Florida's Big Bend area later in the day before moving across southeastern Georgia. 

Tropical storm warnings cover Florida's west coast from Boca Grande to Indian Pass, and on Florida's east coast from Flagler Beach northward to Virginia. Tropical Storm warnings have also been extended to cover Marion and Sumter counties as of the 8am update.

Tornado and flood watches are in effect until 11am for Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties.

Central Florida is seeing Andrea’s outer rain bands, and is expected to continue to receive heavy rain and high winds throughout the day as the storm heads toward the Panhandle. Wind gusts of 40 to 50 miles per hour have been reported in areas of Central Florida and are expected to continue for approximately the next 24 hours. Rain is forecast to reach up to 4 inches in many portions of Central Florida. 

Tropical Storm Andrea is expected to weaken over land and become a rain event as it moves into Georgia and over the Carolinas in the coming days.

 

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