Bayshore Boulevard Section Closed Ahead of Possible Flooding

TAMPA, FL — Motorists who use Bayshore Boulevard to get around may want to find a different route until Tropical Storm Hermine passes through.

The city of Tampa has announced the closing of Bayshore Boulevard in both directions between Platt Street and Bay to Bay in advance of flooding that is anticipated.

“Emergency vehicles will still be able to transit Bayshore until it becomes unpassable,” the city said in a Thursday afternoon email to media.

It is unclear at this time how soon the road might reopen.

See also: Tropical Storm Hermine Intensifies Offshore of Florida; Tropical Storm Warning Includes Tampa

The National Hurricane Center reported that Tropical Storm Hermine was located about 190 miles west of Tampa at 1 p.m. Thursday. The storm was kicking up maximum sustained winds of 70 mph and was moving on a north-northeast track at 14 mph.

As of Thursday afternoon, hurricane center forecasters anticipated Tropical Storm Hermine would gain hurricane strength before making landfall. Tropical storm force winds are extending outward from the storm up to 185 miles to the northeast and southeast of the center, forecasters say.

As of the 1 p.m. update from the hurricane center, the tropical storm warning had been extended south along Florida's west coast to Englewood, including the Tampa Bay area. It was also extended south along the east coast to include the Flagler and Volusia County line.

Image via Shutterstock/Map courtesy of the city of Tampa