Here is your forecast for Tuesday, September 24th, 2024.
Other than a passing shower this evening, radar will remain fairly quiet. Cloud cover will increase overnight, as we start off Wednesday mostly cloudy but mainly dry in the upper 70s. Around Noon, outer rain bands from Helene will begin to move in, and continue on and off through the afternoon.
Winds will be breezy and gradually increase throughout the day. You're encouraged to secure any patio furniture or trash cans that may blow around. Tropical storm force winds in excess of 39 mph arrive after midnight and continue through the day on Thursday.
At 5pm, Tropical Storm Watches were upgraded to Warnings (in red) for DeSoto, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee and coastal Collier counties. This means that tropical storm conditions are likely within the warned area within the next 36 hours.
Tropical Storm Watches are in effect (in yellow) for inland Collier, Hendry and Glades counties.
Let's review the Tuesday 5:00pm update from the Nat'l Hurricane Center together:
Storm Surge Warnings are now in effect for our entire coastline, where 3-5 feet of flooding surge are expected, including Charlotte Harbor. If you live in an area along the coast, know your high tide times, and ensure your vehicles are parked in an elevated location. If you flooded in Debby and Idalia, you'll likely flood with this system as well.
The threat for storm surge will extend from Thursday morning through Saturday morning.
Tropical Storm Helene is slightly stronger with sustained winds of 50 mph. By tomorrow morning, it is forecast to be a Category 1 hurricane near Cancun as it enters the southern Gulf of Mexico.
The storm will quickly strengthen and is forecast to be a Category 3 hurricane by 8am Thursday morning. This is around the time that it will be at its closest point to SWFL, about 150 miles offshore.
Because of its size and magnitude, SWFL will begin feeling tropical storm conditions Wednesday night through Thursday. Conditions will improve Friday morning.
Localized flooding will be something to monitor closely, especially later on Thursday as the rainfall accumulates and swales fill. 4-6" of rain are expected along the coast with 1-3" inland.
FOX 4 EVENING METEOROLOGIST KATIE WALLS
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