Topline
The National Hurricane Center (NHC), reporting that Tropical Storm Fred has regained strength and was upgraded to a depression Sunday morning. As the storm moves over the Gulf of Mexico, it makes its way towards Florida and Alabama. It will bring heavy rain and possible tornadoes to the area.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA), satellite image shows Tropical Storm Fred passing south of Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic on August 11. ASSOCIATED PRS
The Key Facts
Warnings for tropical storms have been issued for portions of the Florida Panhandle Coast. Watches are also in effect for areas closer to the Alabama/Florida border. The NHC forecasts that Fred will gain strength as it approaches land and then weaken once it does. The maximum sustained winds for the storm are currently at 40 miles per hour. Southern Florida and Florida Keys could see three to five inches of rain, with occasional totals up to eight inches. Tornadoes could hit parts of the Florida coast and the coastal Florida panhandle on Sunday and Monday. Fred will make landfall on the Florida coast Monday afternoon or night. The NHC predicts that the Florida Big Bend, panhandle and could see four to eight inches of rainfall through Tuesday. Fred will make landfall in Alabama, Tennessee, and parts of Georgia. The NHC predicts that those areas along with the western Carolinas could experience three to six inches of rainfall through Tuesday. There may be isolated amounts of as high as nine inches. Flooding from heavy rainfall could pose a threat in Florida, Georgia, Georgia and the western Carolinas. There may also be storm surge along portions of the Florida or Louisiana coasts.
Important Background
This year's sixth Atlantic hurricane season storm is Fred. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there will be between 15 and 20 named storms and 7 to 10 hurricanes in this season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) expects that three to five of these storms will be a category 3 storm or higher. Fred gained strength after previously forming south-central Puerto Rico, then later weakening over Hispaniola. This caused widespread power outages in the Dominican Republic when it reached landfall.
What to Watch
As Fred approaches landfall, Tropical Storm Grace is threatening the Atlantic. This has prompted tropical storm warnings in Puerto Rico, the U.S Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic. As Haiti recovers from its devastating earthquake, the storm could also affect parts of Haiti. Although Grace's impact on the U.S. mainland remains unclear, its current path would see it tracking west of Florida and into Gulf of Mexico by late next week.
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According to Government Forecasters, Hurricane Season is about to get worse (Forbes).
Fred Looks Ragged, but Storm Expected to Strengthen As It Approaches Florida
Tropical Storm Fred forms near Puerto Rico and is moving towards Florida (Forbes).
