Tropical Storm Hermine Expected to Become Hurricane; Hurricane Gaston Holds Steady

TAMPA, FL — Hurricane Gaston lost its major storm status Wednesday evening as Tropical Storm Hermine gained strength off Florida's Gulf Coast. Meanwhile, a tropical depression is moving into the open Atlantic Ocean, and a fourth storm off the coast of Africa also has the attention of the National Hurricane Center.

As of Wednesday at 11 p.m., Hurricane Gaston was located about 935 miles west of Faial Island in the central Azores. The storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, which makes it a Category 2 hurricane. It was moving northeast at 20 mph. On its present track, Gaston is expected to pose no threat to major land masses. Forecasters expect the storm to downgrade more by Friday afternoon.

Tropical Storm Hermine's formation in the Gulf of Mexico was announced by the hurricane center in a 2 p.m. update. The storm was located about 315 miles west-southwest of Tampa as of 11 p.m. Wednesday. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 60 mph and was moving north-northeast at 10 mph.

On its present course, Hermine is expected to make landfall somewhere along Florida's Gulf Coast or Panhandle Thursday evening before crossing the state and heading into the southern portion of Georgia and onto South Carolina. The storm could also pose a threat for North Carolina and Virginia over the Labor Day weekend.

In the 11 p.m. update Wednesday, forecasters warned that "Hermine is expected to be a hurricane by the time landfall occurs."

By Wednesday evening, a hurricane watch was in effect for Florida's Anclote River area north to Destin. A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions are possible within 48 hours. A tropical storm warning has also been issued for the same area. A warning means conditions are expected to arrive within 36 hours.

A tropical storm watch has also been issued for Marineland, Florida, to Altamaha Sound, Georgia, on the east coast.

A hurricane warning was issued from the Suwanee River to Mexico Beach as of 11 p.m. The tropical storm watch was extended from Altamaha Sound, Georgia, to South Santee River, South Carolina.

Forecasters at the National Weather Service’s Ruskin office are warning Tampa Bay area residents to brace for the potential of heavy rain, flooding, storm surge and tornadoes.

“Copious amounts of tropical moisture associated with this system will support widespread, heavy rains and squalls over this region on Thursday,” the agency wrote in its Wednesday morning Hazardous Weather Outlook report. Forecasters say the interior part of West Central Florida could see rainfall of 4 to 6 inches. The coastal region from St. Petersburg to Cedar Key could witness rainfall amounts up to 10 inches.

“In addition to the heavy rain and flooding threat, increasing wind shear within the atmosphere will bring an increased risk of tornadoes later tonight through Thursday,” the weather service warned.

Storm surge is also a concern. The biggest threat, forecasters say, is along the Nature Coast from Homosassa north to Cedar Key starting Wednesday night and continuing through Thursday.

The entire Tampa Bay area is under a flood watch starting at 2 p.m. Wednesday and continuing through until Friday night. Sarasota, Bradenton, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Brandon and New Port Richey are among the communities included in the watch.

Tropical Depression Eight was located about 320 miles east-northeast of Cape Hatteras as of Wednesday at 11 p.m. The storm had lost a little power with maximum sustained winds reported at 30 mph. The hurricane center said some strengthening may occur over the next day. The depression could become a tropical storm at some point on Thursday.

As of Wednesday at 11 p.m., the storm was moving east-northeast at 18 mph.

The depression is expected to follow a path that will bring it into the open Atlantic Ocean. It isn’t expected to pose a threat to major land masses over the next few days.

Should the depression gain tropical storm status, it will be called Ian.

The hurricane center is also keeping a close watch on a tropical disturbance located off the coast of Africa. As of Wednesday evening, the tropical wave was located just west of the Cabo Verde Islands. Forecasters say development over the next few days is unlikely due to dry air it has encountered. Even so, development chances increase when the system moves near the Lesser Antilles this weekend. The storm has been given a 30 percent chance of further development over the next five days.

To find out more about hurricane season and storm preparation in the Tampa Bay area, read these related Patch stories:

• Hurricane Season 2016: Where To Find Local Information
• 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast Released
• Hurricane Season: How to Prepare
• 2016 Hurricane Names: Is Yours On the List?
• Tampa Bay 'Ripe for Disaster,' Hurricane Experts Say

To keep up with storm activity as the season develops, bookmark the National Hurricane Center’s website and keep an eye on your hometown Patch site for local information.

Images courtesy of the National Hurricane Center