FL Panhandle Braces For TS Fred As Tropical Depression 8 Forms

FLORIDA — As residents of the Panhandle anxiously await the arrival of Tropical Storm Fred — expected to bring dangerous storm surges and heavy rains — weather watchers are also keeping an eye on an eighth tropical depression forming in the Atlantic Ocean.

According to the National Hurricane Center, a tropical storm warning has been extended from the Navarre in the Florida Big Bend area east to the Steinhatchee River as Fred approaches in the next 12 hours, packing 60 mph sustained winds.

Fred is currently located 55 miles southwest of Apalachicola and is moving north at 10 mph.

A storm surge warning is in effect from Indian Pass to Yankeetown, meaning there is a danger of life-threatening inundation from rising water in these areas.

"This is a life-threatening situation," said National Hurricane Center forecaster Richard Pasch. "People located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions."

Storm surge estimates are:

• Indian Pass to Steinhatchee River — 3 to 5 feet
• Steinhatchee River to Yankeetown — 2 to 4 feet
• The Florida/Alabama border to Indian Pass including Pensacola Bay, Choctawhatchee Bay and Saint Andrew Bay — 1 to 3 feet
• Yankeetown to Aripeka in Pasco County — 1 to 3 feet

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the east of landfall where the surge will be accompanied by large waves. Home and business owners are urged to reinforce their foundations with sandbags to prevent flood waters from entering buildings.

On the forecast track, the center of Fred should make landfall in the eastern Florida Panhandle Monday afternoon or early evening and move over western Georgia on Tuesday.

Some strengthening is possible before Fred makes landfall. After making land, Fred is expected to quickly weaken.

Stay tuned to Patch for tropical weather updates.

Tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles from the center. A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration observation site at Apalachicola reported a wind gust of 37 mph, and a NOAA buoy located about 130 miles south-southeast of Pensacola reported a sustained wind of 56 mph.

In addition to storm surge, Fred is expected to generate swells affecting the coasts of Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle that could cause life-threatening surf and rip currents.

Fred is also expected to dump 1 to 2 inches of rain on South and Central Florida, with isolated areas receiving 5 inches, and bring 4 to 8 inches of rain to the Florida Big Bend and Panhandle with isolated totals of 12 inches.

Southeast Alabama, western and northern Georgia, and the western Carolinas should expect 4 to 7 inches of rain, with isolated maximum storm totals of 10 inches along with possible flash flooding, street flooding and overflowing rivers and streams.

There is also an increased risk of landslides across the mountains of North Carolina as well as portions of the Blue Ridge Escarpment on Tuesday.

A few tornadoes are possible Monday across parts of the Florida Panhandle, southwest Georgia and southeast Alabama.

Meanwhile, the center of Tropical Depression Grace is now crossing the Barahona Peninsula of the Dominican Republic with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. Grace is moving to the west at about 15 mph. A west-northwest motion is expected over the next several days, then Grace is forecast to restrengthen and become a tropical storm again by Tuesday.

Coming up behind Grace, Tropical Depression 8 lies 135 miles east-southeast of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. It's moving south at 9 mph.

A slow clockwise turn toward the southwest and then west is expected during the next few days.

See related stories:

• Tropical Storm Fred To Bring 2-4 Feet Of Storm Surge To Panhandle
• Fred May Become Tropical Storm Friday; 2nd Tropical Storm Brewing
• Above-Normal 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season Predicted By NOAA
• Hurricane Season's 1st Atlantic Tropical Storm Possibly Forming
• 2021 Hurricane Season Names: From Ana And Bill To Sam And Wanda